Ben Shelton, the 2023 Japan Open champion, has officially withdrawn from the 2025 edition of the tournament in Tokyo. The American, currently ranked No. 6 in the world, had been scheduled to return to the fast indoor courts where he made his breakthrough last year. His absence is a major blow to the event and raises concerns about his physical condition heading into the final stretch of the season.
Injury concerns ahead of the ATP Finals
Shelton’s withdrawal comes at a critical moment in the ATP calendar. With the race to Turin heating up, every match counts, and missing Tokyo could impact his momentum. Despite a strong season that includes a title in Toronto and a final in Munich, the injury has sparked concern among fans and analysts. “Ben is looking good to qualify for Turin, but this should injury worries a lot,” said one commentator, reflecting the growing unease around his fitness.
A depleted field in Tokyo
Shelton’s exit leaves the Tokyo draw with only two top 10 players: World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 5 Taylor Fritz. The tournament, once expected to showcase a star-studded lineup, now leans heavily on these two to carry the spotlight. “Tokyo is down to just two top 10 players. That’s a big shift from what we expected,” noted a tournament insider.
Opportunity for rising contenders
With Shelton out, the door opens for other top 20 players to make a deeper run. Casper Ruud, Holger Rune, and Jiri Lehecka are among the highest-ranked remaining contenders. Each has shown flashes of brilliance this season and could capitalize on the thinner field to boost their rankings and confidence heading into the final months of the year.
Looking ahead
Shelton’s team has yet to confirm the extent of his injury or his availability for upcoming tournaments. His fans will be hoping for a swift recovery and a strong finish to the season, especially with the ATP Finals in Turin looming. For now, Tokyo moves forward with a reshuffled cast, and the spotlight shifts to Alcaraz, Fritz, and the next wave of challengers.
Ben Shelton in 2025
Now ranked no.6 (career-high), Shelton played his last match on the 29th of August when he had to retire when playing against world no.53 Adrian Mannarino in the 3rd round and the scoreline was 3-6 6-3 4-6 6-4 .
At the moment, during this season Ben has a composed 37-18 record. This year, the American conquered 1 tournament in Toronto. The American reached the final in Munich.
He is also scheduled to play in Tokyo (Japan Open Tennis Championships) on the 24th of September and Shanghai (Shanghai Rolex Masters) on the 1st of October.