Ben Shelton enjoyed a breakthrough stretch in August, capturing his first Masters title in Toronto. He followed that success with a semifinal run in Washington and a quarterfinal appearance in Cincinnati. His performances established him as a serious contender for the US Open, sparking excitement across American tennis circles. Many hoped Shelton could become the first American man since Andy Roddick in 2003 to win a Grand Slam singles title.
The injury setback in New York
Shelton began the US Open strongly, winning his first two matches in straight sets. However, his campaign came to a sudden halt when he suffered a shoulder injury during his third-round match against Adrian Mannarino. Forced to retire, the 23-year-old saw his dream run end prematurely, leaving fans and fellow players disappointed.
Roddick’s emotional reaction
Andy Roddick, who remains the last American man to win a Grand Slam, admitted the moment was difficult to watch. Speaking on his podcast, he shared what he told Shelton’s father, Bryan. “I told him that I was heartbroken for Ben at the US Open because the thing that you want as a pro tennis player is to get to the point where you build and build and build and then you are pretty close to positive about what your output is going to be on a given day. Ben had gotten to that point by winning in Canada. Every time he stepped on the court, you knew it was going to be a pretty good product,” Roddick said.
He added: “I was just heartbroken because it takes months and months and years and years to get to the point where that output is predictable and you look like a top-five guy. Ben had that, he had gotten to that point, and then injury interrupted it. I was really excited about his prospects at the US Open before that injury.”
Struggles after recovery
Following the injury, Shelton took a month off before returning to competition. His comeback proved challenging, as he posted a 3-6 record for the remainder of the season and went winless at the ATP Finals. The setback highlighted the difficulty of regaining form after a serious injury, especially when momentum had been building toward a potential Grand Slam breakthrough.
Shelton’s journey remains one of promise, but his US Open disappointment serves as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in professional tennis. For Roddick, the episode underscored both the fragility of success and the resilience required to return to the top.
Ben Shelton in 2025
LLLLWWWLWL Currently the world no.9, Ben played his last match on the 14th of November when he capitulated to world no.5 Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6 7-6(7) 7-5 in the round robin in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
This season Ben achieved a compiled 40-24 record. This year, Ben conquered 1 tournament in Toronto. Ben got to the final in Munich.
