Ben Shelton has been really impressive all throughout the Dallas Open, and now faces a golden opportunity to secure his spot in the final.
After all, he has played three really top-level opponents, and fought through each one with remarkable grit and technical quality.
His serve is what makes this American talent so dangerous, but his groundstrokes are showing visible improvements too.
However, whilst discussing his serve after his latest win over Miomir Kecmanović, Ben Shelton explained why he has no plans to listen to his dad’s advice for the rest of the tournament.
Why Ben Shelton has been told to ignore his dad’s advice
Chatting to Sam Querrey for Tennis Channel, Shelton began their interview by complimenting his compatriot’s all-white suit.
However, once the laughs had subsided, he was asked about the thought process behind his serving, and just how much he values his father’s input with each new point.
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Normally, it seems like his word is gospel, but on this occasion, there has been a jovial lack of trust.
Shelton admitted: “Actually, yesterday, I was like asking him every once in a while. He’ll give me something sometimes, but every call that he made yesterday, Mannarino either hit a return winner or I lost the point. So he said, I’m not making any more calls.
“Just telling me to trust myself the rest of this tournament. So, maybe he’ll make a comeback in Acapulco or Indian Wells, but he’s not making calls right now on the serve.”
Ben Shelton needs to step up in 2026
Despite reaching the quarterfinals, Greg Rusedski was disappointed with what Shelton did at the Australian Open as he crashed out to Jannik Sinner.
After all, it represented a fine opportunity for the 23-year-old to stamp his mark on the game and announce himself as the man who is going to unsettle the two-man dominance currently embroiling the men’s game.
Alas, he fell to another straight-sets defeat, thus extending his losing streak to nine straight matches against the former world number one.
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Whilst 2025 was a hugely successful year for Shelton, where he claimed his maiden Masters 1000 title, it was also one of great frustration.
After all, he lost in three of the four Grand Slam tournaments against one of Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz, with that trend continuing into 2026.
This is the season where he really needs to step up, or else face falling even further behind in the race for Grand Slam glory.
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