Ben Shelton Tennis : How old is the American tennis star?
American professional tennis player Ben Shelton has quickly become one of the hottest prospects and is expected to be one of the leaders in the sport in the future. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, the 21-year-old was brought up in a tennis-oriented family from the start. His father, Bryan Shelton, is a former professional tennis player who is currently a coach for the Florida Gators. Meanwhile, his mother Lisa Witsken Shelton and sister Emma are also highly ranked junior tennis players.
In his childhood, Ben was not that fond of playing tennis and preferred other sports like football over it. But by the age of 12, he regularly started playing tennis courtesy of his father coaching him. In his junior career, Ben made a name for himself with a strong performance on the USTA Junior Circuit. He showcased his potential by winning several junior tournaments and climbing up the rankings.
Ben did not immediately go from junior to pro, and decided to pursue college tennis at the University of Florida, where he was a part of the Florida Gators, under his own father who was the head coach. His college career allowed him to develop his game further under the guidance of experienced coaches and against strong collegiate competition.
Ben Shelton Tennis : Ben Shelton’s professional career and achievements
Ben Shelton turned pro in 2022, where his initial transition was highlighted by strong performances in the ATP Challenger Tour and Tour events. The youngster’s early success helped him gain valuable experience and confidence along the way.
His big breakthrough came up in 2023, where he reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, after beating out tough competition from the likes of J.J. Wolf, Alexei Popyrin, Nicolas Jarry, and Zhang Zhizhen. Moreover, he also reached the semi-finals of the US Open the same year, where he was defeated in straight sets by none other than eventual winner Novak Djokovic. These performances showcased his ability to be able to handle high pressure situations at a young age, which led to him being in the top 20 of the ATP rankings for the first time as well.
In 2024, Ben Shelton made history by winning the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships, defeating third seed Frances Tiafoe in the first African-American men’s singles tennis final in the Open Era. He won his second overall career title and first on clay, while becoming the youngest champion since Andy Roddick in 2002 to do so.
The American made it to the third round of the 2024 US Open recently, and currently sits at 17th in the ATP rankings, with a personal best of 13th which he achieved in the previous month. With continued development and experience, the soon to be 22-year-old’s professional tennis career looks to be a bright one ahead.
