Ben Shelton has been making waves at the French Open, reaching the fourth round with a commanding victory over Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante. As he prepares to face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, Shelton reflected on the state of American tennis, recognizing the strides his country has made while admitting that Italy still holds an edge.
Shelton, the 13th seed, has been part of a resurgence in American men’s tennis, with multiple players advancing deep into the tournament. Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul have also reached the fourth round, marking a significant achievement for the United States. However, Shelton acknowledged that Italy’s depth and success in recent years have given them an advantage.
His upcoming match against Alcaraz presents a formidable challenge. The Spaniard has been dominant on clay, and despite showing vulnerability in his previous match against Damir Dzumhur, he remains a strong favorite. Shelton, known for his powerful serve and aggressive play, will need to bring his best game to compete against the defending champion.
Shelton’s journey at Roland Garros has been impressive, and his confidence continues to grow. As he steps onto the court against Alcaraz, he will look to prove that American tennis is not only on the rise but capable of competing with the best in the world.
Alcaraz at the French Open, ranking, and results in 2025
At the moment ranked no.2, the Spaniard has managed to achieve a compiled 33-5 record in 2025. Carlos is competing at the French Open where he toppled the world no.310 Giulio Zeppieri 6-3 6-4 6-2, the world no.56 Fabian Marozsan 6-1 4-6 6-1 6-2 and the world no.69 Damir Dzumhur 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4.
Carlos Alcaraz will face the world no.13 Ben Shelton in the 4th round. Their actual record is 2-0 for Alcaraz.
Carlos conquered 3 titles in 2025 in Rotterdam, Monte-Carlo and Rome. The Spaniard was the runner-up in Barcelona (Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell).
Alcaraz won 20 titles in his career: 5 on hard courts, 10 on clay courts, 2 on indoor courts and 3 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Shelton at the French Open, ranking, and results in 2025
Ranked no.13, the American has achieved a compiled 17-10 match record in 2025. Ben is now playing at the French Open where he managed to beat the world no.44 Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-2 6-3, the world no.83 Hugo Gaston w/o and the world no.167 Matteo Gigante 6-3 6-3 6-4.
Ben Shelton will face the world no.2 Carlos Alcaraz in the 4th round. Their current head to head is 2-0 for Alcaraz.
Ben reached the final in Munich (BMW Open).
Shelton has scheduled to play next in Mallorca (Mallorca Championships). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 1st of January.
Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton played each other just 2 times. Their head to head is 2-0 for Alcaraz.
