Ben Shelton achieved a rare feat by virtue of winning a maiden ATP Tour title at the Japan Open on Sunday.
The 21-year-old Atlanta native defeated Aslan Karatsev 7-5, 6-1 in the Tokyo final to win his first ATP title. Shelton becomes the second-youngest first-time champion on tour in 2023 and will be ranked as high as 14th on Monday in the new rankings.
Of relevance, Ben Shelton joined his father Bryan Shelton in becoming an ATP titlist. They're the fourth father-son pair to win at least one title in singles. Bryan Shelton, who achieved a career ranking of No. 55 during his playing days won back-to-back ATP Tour titles in Newport in 1991 and 1992.
Remarkably, Bryan and Ben Shelton are the third American duo to achieve this feat, after Petr and Sebastian Korda, Phil and Taylor Dent. The other father-son duo who won ATP titles are India's Ramanathan and Ramesh Krishnan.
And from the list, the only active sons are Ben Shelton and Sebastian Korda who are part of the ATP's newest stars. Earlier this season, Bryan Shelton resigned from his position as Florida Gators head men's tennis coach of the past 11 years in order to coach his son.
And that decision appears to have paid off, as he has steered young Ben Shelton to his first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open and now his first ATP title. A Top 15 debut awaits Ben Shelton as of Monday, thereby becoming USA's No. 3 player.
Shelton currently leads the rest of his compatriots in the Olympics race, having amassed more points in the second half of the season so far, and has put himself in contention to qualify for the ATP Finals, having won eight of his past nine matches at Tour level. He is scheduled to face Jannik Sinner in the first round of the Vienna Open.
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