With his big lefty serve firing and a flashy net game, Ben Shelton was born to shine on the biggest stages.
Vivienne Christie is a journalist for Tennis Australia, which has contributed this piece
With his big lefty serve firing, a flashy net game singing and a seemingly unstoppable competitive energy, it was as if Ben Shelton was born on the biggest stages of tennis as he stepped boldly into the spotlight at Australian Open 2023.
But the journey that started on Court 14 and concluded with a first major quarter-final appearance at Rod Laver Arena was in fact only a second grand slam campaign for the young American.
Even more remarkable was that Shelton, who'd turned professional only months earlier, was competing outside the United States for the first time. His earlier 2023 travel itinerary, via tournaments in Adelaide and Auckland, marked the first time he'd left his home nation at all.
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"I got on the plane with no expectations," said Shelton, with the broad smile that barely left his face through wins over Zhang Zhizhen, Nicolas Jarry, Alexei Popyrin and J.J Wolf at Melbourne Park. "(It's) definitely a surprise."
Yet for all his inexperience, it soon became clear at the AO that Shelton was wise beyond his then-20 years. Two of his four headline-grabbing wins in Melbourne spanned the full five-set distance – he fought for three-and-half hours against Zhang in his opening match and even longer against fellow American (and good friend) J.J Wolf in a gruelling fourth round.
There was also a straight-sets win over home favourite Alexei Popyrin at John Cain Arena, underlining the composure that complements Shelton's big game. "This stadium is something special," he beamed post-match, with the pro-Australian crowd now firmly on his side.
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Shelton's ability to manage the high-pressure setting was helped by his college tennis career at the University of Florida, where his former pro-playing father Bryan was head coach of the Florida Gators team. The younger Shelton had initially focused on football, with a potential tennis career coming more clearly into focus from his early teens.
Inspired by his father, who won titles in both singles and doubles in the 1990s, Ben auspiciously committed to his college career on Father's Day in 2020. Combining his on-court development with studies in finance, he clinched the 2021 NCCA men's team title for the Gators and added the 2022 NCAA singles title before turning pro in June 2022.
In a sign of things to come, Shelton made rapid progress on the ATP Tour. After a win over Ramkumar Ramanathan on his debut in Atlanta, he pushed John Isner to three sets and was rewarded with a Cincinnati wildcard. In his first ATP Masters 1000 tournament, Shelton stunned world No.5 Casper Ruud – then ranked more than 220 places higher to reach the third round.
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Still, few could have foreseen the magic that would unfold in Melbourne last summer, including Shelton himself. "I definitely wouldn't have thought that I would be here in this moment six months ago (even) four months ago," he commented, having leapt from world No.89 into the world's top 50 following his AO success.
Consistency was initially elusive as Shelton navigated a first full year on tour. After second-round appearances at Indian Wells and Miami, he claimed just two ATP-level match wins on clay. At Wimbledon, where Shelton's big serve and net game were expected to be most damaging, he fell to Laslo Djere in the second round.
But returned to a grand slam setting at the US Open, Shelton's big stage ability was once again on show.
With wins over high-profile opponents including 2020 champion Dominic Thiem (who retired with injury after dropping the first set of their second round), fellow American Tommy Paul and US Open 2022 semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe, Shelton progressed to the final four at Flushing Meadows, where he fell to Novak Djokovic in straight sets.
"I learned a lot about myself these two weeks," Shelton reflected. "I kind of found a place where I can operate and still be calm and still be clear-minded but be a fierce competitor … be a dog out there, have a dog mentality."
With father Bryan, whom Shelton names as his biggest inspiration, now a full-time member of his coaching team, there were further milestones to celebrate in his life-changing year.
Shelton was unbeaten in three Laver Cup matches (one in singles, two in doubles) as part of the Team World line-up that claimed the prestigious trophy for the second consecutive year. At the Shanghai Masters, where he celebrated his 21st birthday, he stunned world No.4 Jannik Sinner in a quarter-final run.
He carried that form into a momentous debut at the Japan Open in Tokyo, where he lifted the first singles trophy of his career.
"I have surpassed my expectations for the year," said Shelton, whose victims at the tournament included Paul in a three-set quarter-final, fellow American Marcos Giron in the semi-finals and Aslan Karatsev in the championship match.
"It has been a dream year for me and being able to do well at tournaments and now win a tournament and also take losses and learn things about myself.
"Play on different surfaces, being introduced to new and different cultures. It has all been a blessing and I have really enjoyed my first full year on tour."
In late October, Shelton became one of four American men (alongside Taylor Fritz, Paul and Tiafoe) to rank inside the world's top 15. He currently sits at 17th.
Australian Open 2023 marked a special part of that journey towards the top of the sport, and the confidence gained in Melbourne last summer will almost certainly carry through for the talented young star in the years ahead.