Ben Shelton enjoyed a fine year on the ATP Tour, during which the American won the ATP Masters 1000 Canada.
Coached by his father Bryan, Shelton is ninth in the year-end rankings, having climbed to a career-high of fifth shortly before.
He finished the ATP season with 40 wins and 24 losses, with an Australian Open semifinal run among his accomplishments.
Shelton also reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, but fell in the fourth and third rounds of the French Open and the US Open respectively.
Ben Shelton shares insight into his ‘crazy’ tennis career
The American has now shared insight into his journey so far, having been asked by Noah Christian Dion: “Especially being at UF (University of Florida) with your father and winning the national championship for college, and then being so early on the breakthrough for the ATP Tour, how are you able to maintain that pressure, being able to put on some great results and now being top five in the world?”
Shelton replied: “Yeah, I mean it’s been a cool journey for me, a crazy journey. You know, a lot of tennis players don’t go to college, so I guess my path was a little different.
“And I think I’m a testament that there’s no one path or one way to the top of the sport. It’s an ongoing process. I’m just trying to get better every day. This is a sport that you get left behind if you don’t keep improving.
“I’m glad that, or hope that I can inspire kids who are going to college or who are in college that they can make it as pros as well.”
Should Ben Shelton hire a new coach for the 2026 season?
Nick Kyrgios says if he thinks he is ‘relatable’ as an athlete
Australian star Nick Kyrgios also spoke to Dion, having been asked how he was able to make the switch from the lows to the highs having dealt with depression and made the 2022 Wimbledon final.
Kyrgios said: “I think when I started to realize that I was playing for a lot more people than myself. Obviously family and friends.
“But I did a kids clinic this morning, did another kids clinic just then, you think about all the fans and all the other people that I’m a role model for, they want to see me go out there, be happy and enjoy the journey as well.
“So I think when I realized that I was playing for a lot more than myself, I think that really helped me go out there, and especially have the year I had in 2022.
“Almost getting a Grand Slam and reaching some levels that not many people reach, is a pretty crazy experience.
“But at the same time, I think I’m pretty relatable as an athlete as well. I think when these kids see someone like me able to do these things and achieve these things, they truly do believe that they can do it themselves.
“And I think that’s the most important message, is like it really can be possible for anyone, if you just consistently put the days in and try and do the right thing.”
What do you really think about tennis exhibitions?
Kyrgios and Shelton linked up at The Atlanta Cup, one of a handful of exhibition events in the US this month.
But it remains to be seen what 2026 will look like for popular figure Kyrgios, who has been hampered by injury for some time.
That wasn’t the case in 2022, when he made it all the way to the final of Wimbledon before a heartbreaking loss to Novak Djokovic.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
