Ben Shelton continued his incredible run at the 2023 Australian Open, by advancing to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career. The American, who was competing in just his second Major, defeated giant-killer Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-4 in straight sets to secure his place in the second week Down Under.
The fact that Shelton has played all of his professional tennis in the United States and has thus far managed to crack the Top-100 of the ATP rankings makes this trip abroad all the more intriguing.
About Shelton’s parents
Ben Shelton was the son of tennis-experienced parents Bryan and Lisa Shelton when he was born in 2002. Former ATP player Bryan Shelton reached a career-high ranking of World No. 55 in singles and No. 52 in doubles. At Wimbledon in 1994, he advanced as far as he did in singles at a Grand Slam, reaching the fourth round. He had two tour titles to his name when his career came to an end. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets women’s tennis team reached the second round of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) tournament in his first season as their coach after that. In 1999. He was honored with three ACC (Atlantic Coach Conference) awards for being the best coach of the year and led the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to their first-ever major victory in 2007 when they won the NCAA championship.
Bryan relocated from Georgia to Florida in 2012 after accepting the position of head coach of the Florida Gators men’s tennis team. In 2021, under his leadership, they won the NCAA championship, making him the first coach to do so while coaching both men’s and women’s teams. By the way, before turning professional in 2022, his son also competed for the Florida Gators in tennis.
Ben’s mother, Lisa Shelton, a promising junior tennis player herself, decided to change careers and become a realtor. Todd Witsken, her brother, was a former member of the ATP and achieved rankings of No. 4 in doubles (12 titles) and No. 43 in singles. The 20-year-sister, old’s Emma, also competes for Florida in tennis.
About his girlfriend Anna Hall
Ben Shelton and Anna Hall started dating in 2021, as Hall later revealed on her Instagram page. Hall, a well-known national heptathlete, took first place at the 2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She qualified for the World Athletics Championships thanks to her victory, where she took home a bronze medal. She has won two NCAA championships while playing for the University of Florida, and she has been named a Division I All-American seven times.
Shelton made light of the fact that he isn’t even the best athlete in his relationship in an interview last year, praising his girlfriend for inspiring him to become a better athlete.
Shelton at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2023
Currently ranked no.89 (career-high), the American has managed to achieve a 4-2 record in 2023. The American is currently competing at the Australian Open where he ousted the world no.96 Zhizhen Zhang 4-6 6-3 6-2 2-6 7-64, the world no.154 Nicolas Jarry 7-63 7-63 7-5 and the world no.113 Alexei Popyrin 6-3 7-64 6-4.
Ben Shelton will face the world no.67 Jeff Wolf in the 4th round. In the past, they have never played each other until now in top events.
Shelton is scheduled to compete next in Dallas (Dallas Open). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 6th of February.
