According to John McEnroe, Ben Shelton has developed into a more complete player and he is confident that in the upcoming years, he will be ranked among the world’s best players. The 21-year-old is his choice to make the breakthrough and put an end to the American men’s wait for another Grand Slam victory.

Shelton has improved this year after having an amazing 2023 season in which he began the year at No. 96 and ended at No. 17.

He made it to the US Open semifinals and won his first-ever title at the Japan Open last year. This year, he won the US Men’s Clay Court Championships, his second ATP Tour singles title, and he also rose to a career-high No. 13 in the ATP Rankings.

If Shelton keeps up his current pace, tennis legend McEnroe believes he will eventually crack the top five in the rankings.

McEnroe talked about it and said: “I see Ben in the top five in the world if he keeps progressing. I think he’s got the ability. He wants it. He’s worked at it. He’s better than he was to me a year ago, more complete. But I think he’s going to be up there with those guys, and that would be great.”

Tennis great McEnroe believes Shelton will be the one to make a breakthrough. He added: “You know, I think American tennis is getting closer. You saw Taylor was in the final. Frances has been in a couple of semis. Ben’s been in the semis. We’re going to make the breakthrough. Ben, I believe, is going to make a breakthrough in the next couple of years.”

Ben Shelton in 2024

Now ranked no.17, Shelton played his last match on the 22^nd of September when he beat world no.5 Daniil Medvedev 6-7(6) 7-5 10-7 in the round robin in the Laver Cup (draw).

This season the American has achieved a composed 33-21 match record. This year, Ben won 1 tournament in Houston.