America’s charismatic 21-year-old star is set to continue his Tokyo title defense against Arthur Fils on Sunday.
Known for his energy, dynamism and power, Ben Shelton is relishing some timely end of season form.
The American smartly defeated Daniil Medvedev at the Laver Cup last week, as well as winning two of his three doubles matches.
Visibly thriving in the team environment the event is built on, Shelton collaborated with both Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, both of whom have slumped to early defeats in Tokyo.
With Fritz losing to Frenchman Arthur Fils, Shelton will have to deliver what his countryman couldn’t as they meet for the second time since last year’s Laver Cup.
Ben Shelton names the funniest and nicest players on the ATP Tour
Often the joker of the pack, the ebullient youngster came through college tennis to the top of the ATP tour, currently ranked two spots off his career-high of 13th.
Speaking about his tour mates, Shelton said he hated playing against Roman Safiullin when quizzed over his hardest opponents outside of the top 20.
Shelton spoke positively about Carlos Alcaraz at the Laver Cup describing the Spaniard’s unreal level and intensity.
This time however, snubbing his Laver Cup compatriots, Shelton picked out Andrey Rublev as the player he finds the nicest on the ATP Tour.
Moving onto funniest, Shelton surprisingly said Dan Evans was the funniest, despite the pair having only met once before in Acapulco earlier this year.
Ben Shelton needs a strong end to the 2024 season after US Open disappointment
Shelton will need a strong finish to the 2024 season after falling short of expectations at the US Open, losing to Tiafoe in a thrilling five-set match – a repeat of last year’s quarter-final which Shelton won.
Despite his talent and early promise, inconsistency has hampered his ability to deliver in big matches.
To regain momentum, Shelton must capitalize on upcoming tournaments, especially with ranking points at stake.
A solid end to the season could help boost his confidence and secure better draws in 2025. For Shelton, finding form now is crucial to building a foundation for more consistent results at the major tournaments next year.
A title defense in Tokyo would be the perfect way to pick up that all important momentum.
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