Ben Shelton is gearing up to play in his first-ever ATP Finals this coming week, having made a miraculous return to fitness after suffering a heartbreaking injury at the US Open.
Just as he seemed poised to reach the fourth round, playing great tennis, a freak shoulder issue forced him to withdraw.
He left Arthur Ashe Stadium in tears, and it really felt like his season was over.
That’s what makes his comeback in the last few weeks so much more compelling, with this event his last chance to test himself against the ATP Tour’s very best.
Speaking ahead of the ATP Finals, he reflected on his meteoric rise, pinpointing one issue in particular that he has worked hard to rectify.
Ben Shelton on his meteoric rise up the rankings
Speaking to Russian YouTube channel, БОЛЬШЕ, he first admitted that qualifying for the ATP Finals, and being fit enough to play, was massive for him: “Yeah, it’s huge. It was my biggest goal at the beginning of the year.”
He continued: “You know, it’s an accumulation of a lot of hard work. And uh, yeah, I think that it’s an accomplishment that, you know, shows that you’re at the top of the game.
“So for me, being consistent was always an issue for me, as a young player, trying to find my way. I’d have a few great weeks, but a lot of bad weeks as well. So to be able to bring my bottom level up to a place that I can be consistent enough to qualify for this event is really encouraging and I’m just getting started.
“Being in this event is one thing, but it’s an event that I want to, you know, try to be in every single year and continue to do better and better each year.”
Shelton and Taylor Fritz recently learned their ATP Finals groups, with both facing tough draws.
Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton spearhead American hopes at the ATP Finals
With Fritz and Shelton split into separate groups, there is a very real chance of the two meeting one another in the semi-finals or final.
However, for the latter, his chances of qualification seem far steeper than his compatriot, given he will have to bypass Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev and an in-form Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Fritz, meanwhile, has seen the difficulty of his group significantly reduced, with Novak Djokovic withdrawing from the ATP Finals.
He has been replaced by Lorenzo Musetti, who Fritz boasts a far more appealing head-to-head record than his 11-match losing streak against the Serbian.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
