'Like Putting A Ceiling On Myself': Shelton Refuses To Set Ranking Goal
ATP
Ben Shelton is now in the Top 20 on the ATP Tour, but he's not thinking about the ranking. The American player simply wants to improve as a player.
Shelton is a very young player who experienced a dramatic rise this year. He left the United States for the first time at the start of this season. Now, he is a Grand Slam semi-finalist.
The American player made his Top 100 debut last year, and 12 months later, he's in the Top 20. Shelton reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and the semi-finals at the US Open, which earned him plenty of points to put him in this position.
It was the US Open run that secured him the Top 20 debut, but it's not something he thinks about much. He explained his mindset on the latest episode of the ATP Radio Podcast.
"I try to compartmentalize and not think about those things as much. Obviously, being in the Top 20 is something that's new to me. I'm really looking forward to being able to moving forward have an impact and continue to improve and make my mark again."
Shelton also admitted that he doesn't want to reach any specific rank. It's because he doesn't set goals in this way. Instead, he just wants to improve as a player and play for the titles.
"I think that whenever I try to put a number that I'm trying to reach, it's almost like putting a ceiling on myself or a limit. I, I don't know where I want to be in the rankings. I'm not thinking about that as much."
"A goal for me is showing up to tournaments and competing for titles. So if I can get to the place where week in, week out I'm in the running for winning titles, that's something that that I'll be pleased with."
