John McEnroe thinks Ben Shelton is a greater tennis prospect than Holger Rune.
The two young players have been tipped as members of tennis’ next generation and they comfortably sit inside the world’s top 20.
The six-time Grand Slam champion has closely watched the development of both players who burst onto the scene in different ways.
Shelton left college to turn pro in 2022 and reached the Australian Open quarter-finals just months later, while also making the US Open semi-finals that year.
Rune also made his presence felt in 2022 when he captured the Bavarian International Tennis Championship title at the age of 20, before beating Novak Djokovic to win the Paris Masters that season and enter the ATP’s top 10.
Why does John McEnroe think Ben Shelton is a greater prospect than Holger Rune?
Since Shelton and Rune burst on the scene however, both players seem to have gone in opposite directions.
Rune did not quite hit the heights in 2023 as he did in 2022, and fell out of the top 10 in 2024 as he has yet to win a title so far this season.
Shelton on the other hand, claimed his first title last year before winning his maiden clay court title in Houston this past April. He is now inside the world’s top 15 and is making great strides towards becoming a top 10 player.
In addition to his supreme confidence and big personality, McEnroe picked his US compatriot over the Dane as being a greater prospect in tennis.
“I would put Shelton. I’m not sure I would put Rune ahead of Shelton at this point,” he told BBC Sounds. “Maybe it’s because we’re hoping that in America he breaks up big. But he has the personality.”
How did Ben Shelton and Holger Rune do at Wimbledon?
Shelton entered Wimbledon with a lack of form on grass after losing his first match at Queen’s and winning just once in Mallorca.
The 21-year-old managed to claim three at SW19, with each of his victories lasting five sets. He lost in the fourth round to Jannik Sinner, which was his best run at Wimbledon in his career so far.
Like Shelton, Rune also reached the last 16 at the All England Club. He made an impressive start against Kwon Soon-woo before seeing off Thiago Seyboth Wild in round two.
Rune then came from two sets down to defeat Frenchman Quentin Halys, before he was overwhelmed by Djokovic in straight sets.
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