At 6-foot-4, nearly 200 pounds, Ben Shelton is built like an outside linebacker. As a server, he shows off his quarterback arm, the position he played in football.
But on the tennis court, when Shelton gets a lead, he describes himself as something much more fierce, and much more unstoppable.
“I feel like when I get out front, I'm kind of like a freight train. It's tough to stop me,” Shelton said.
The numbers back his characterization. Shelton is 30-1 this year after winning the first set, second to only four-time US Open champion Novak Djokovic, who is 20-0 this season under the same circumstances.
Experts say Shelton’s big game, led by his booming serve, helps the 22-year-old sprint ahead and stay ahead in matches. With his fast delivery and faster serves, leads stretch quickly, and sets finish in a hurry.
They also credit Shelton’s belief, the oozing confidence he exudes at all of tennis’ biggest stages. They don’t come any bigger than the 2025 US Open, where the sixth-seeded Shelton is a favorite to make a deep run and challenge the “New Two” of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
“When you got a big serve, and you could hold quickly out the gate, and you could sneak a break, then you can win a quick set,” said Brad Gilbert, former coach of Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, and Coco Gauff, among others. “I also think that he's one of those guys that when he gets a lead, he's very comfortable.”
Gilbert recalled his days of coaching 2003 US Open champion Roddick and watching five-time US Open champion Roger Federer. The major champions held often and quickly, thrusting the pressure back on their opponents. “Four points and out,” Gilbert said.
Patrick McEnroe, ESPN commentator and 16-time ATP doubles titlist, isn’t ready to place Shelton among the best frontrunners in the sport.
He brings to mind legends Federer and Agassi, as well as current greats Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek, who can hold serve easily and break quickly. Swiatek, for her part, is 43-1 when winning the opening set this year.
“I wouldn't put Shelton in that category yet. But he's improved a lot. What I love about him is his moxie. He's got attitude, got belief. He's a tremendous athlete. He moves better than most people give him credit for,” McEnroe said. “What he needs to continue to improve are what I call the tangibles.
“Sometimes it's just nuts-and-bolts tennis: return of serve, get it in play, serve plus-one, do the basics to make you be able to win in the biggest moments. For him to win in Canada, albeit there was no Sinner and Alcaraz, but that's his first big title (Masters 1000). I think he can make another big move in New York.”
Or, as former world No. 4 Mary Joe Fernandez put it, Shelton needs to “get better at the boring things.”
Gilbert would like to see Shelton improve his return game and another stat: his record after dropping the first set, which is 6-16 this year.
“They’ve just recently moved him way back on the return, trying to find more forehands on it. Working on his defense. So he's doing all the right things. Gotta just continue. And he's in exactly the same age frame as (Sinner and Alcaraz),” Gilbert said.
“Everything at the moment on hard courts goes through Sinner. He's a massive favorite right now. Then it goes Alcaraz. Then I might say Ben is the third favorite.”
Win or lose the opening set, at the 2025 US Open, Shelton is confident the final scoreline will show him on track.
“I like the feeling of comebacks. I also feel like I'm pretty solid after losing the first set and being able to win that second set,” he said.
“I think staying in a mindset where you are okay with whatever happens. When you do get down at times, you're okay with making a comeback, or, you know, being patient if the guy is playing really, really well and not start pressing outside your limits. I think it's really important just how you handle those moments mentally.”
