Rising star Ben Shelton has added another tournament to his pre-Australian Open schedule as he was confirmed to compete at the 2024 Brisbane International.
Ben Shelton stole the show in 2023 as he had a crazy breakout season with several notable results. What's particularly striking about Shelton isn't that he broke out at an ATP 250 event but rather that he did it in the big events.
His initial breakout came at the Australian Open, his maiden Grand Slam outside of the United States. He then had another crazy run at the US Open, getting all the way to the semi-final, where he lost to Novak Djokovic.
He also won his first trophy at an ATP 500 event in Tokyo. It's been a crazy good season for him, and expectations are pretty high. Many will expect him to make another step forward, and he certainly has the ambition to do so.
He added another event to his schedule by confirming his participation at the Brisbane International. Shelton is now set to play in Auckland and Brisbane, two back-to-back events before the Australian Open.
He likely wants to maximize the schedule by having at least two events in there before the Australian Open, anticipating some early rust. If he does go deep in one, he can always withdraw from the other.
The announcement was accompanied by some words by Shelton who is excited to come to Brisbane.
I’m thrilled to be playing the Brisbane International for the first time in 2024. My first trip to Australia was last January, and it was such an amazing experience. The fans were so welcoming. I’m looking forward to exploring Brisbane and playing in front of the local fans. Hopefully, there will also be a chance to fit in some sightseeing during my visit.
We're precisely one month away from that to look out. The new season is fast approaching.