Ben Shelton secured his spot at the 2025 ATP Finals in Turin following a hard-fought third-round victory at the Paris Masters. The American, who has been battling to regain form since the US Open, delivered one of his best performances of the season. “I told my dad before I went on the court, I said, you know, I got the chance to control my own destiny and there’s no way I’m going down today,” Shelton said after the match.

Tactical precision and physical resilience

Facing a strong opponent in Andrey Rublev, Shelton relied on his serving rhythm and aggressive return strategy. “My goal was to just get through my service games as easily as possible… and then when it comes to the return games, just dig, try to get every ball back,” he explained. The match was physically demanding, with long rallies and intense exchanges. “Probably one of my more physical two-set matches that I’ve ever had,” he added.

Footwork and defensive growth

Shelton credited his improved footwork and defensive play for helping him win points he might have lost a year ago. “Trying to win the longer rallies and that being somewhere that I excel versus being a weakness… has helped my footwork, helped my fitness,” he said. The shift in mindset and match experience has contributed to his rise in consistency and confidence.

Rhythm and mental toughness

While acknowledging that each match presents different challenges, Shelton emphasized the importance of mental resilience. “The way that I competed and dealt with adversity… is one of the most important parts of coming back,” he said. He admitted that not every day brings perfect tennis, but staying composed in tough moments has been key to his progress.

A family milestone

Shelton’s qualification for the ATP Finals was a shared triumph with his father and coach, Bryan Shelton. “We were both just kind of excited because we knew… there’s no way I’m going down today. I’m going to find a way no matter what the guy throws at me,” Ben recalled. The moment marked the fulfillment of a season-long goal and a celebration of their collective effort.

Looking ahead to Turin

With his place in the year-end championships secured, Shelton remains focused on the remainder of the season. “It was a great moment, but we have a lot more work to do and the year is not over yet,” he said. His blend of power, grit, and evolving maturity makes him one of the most exciting players heading into Turin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8U8Kp5WRZ0

ATP Paris - Ben Shelton's projected path

Shelton in Paris, ranking, and results in 2025

Currently the world no.7, Shelton has an overall 40-20 win-loss record in 2025. The American is playing in Paris where he ousted the world no.23 Flavio Cobolli 7-6(4) 6-3 and the world no.17 Andrey Rublev 7-6(6) 6-3.

Ben Shelton will come up against the world no.2 Jannik Sinner in the quarter on Friday at 7:00 pm on COURT CENTRAL. Their current record is 6-1 for Sinner.

Ben clinched 1 title in 2025 in Toronto. The American was the runner-up in Munich (BMW Open).