Who is Ben Shelton? Bio, Fun Facts, Info, and Much More

Saturday, 06 September 2025 at 19:45

Updated at Saturday, 06 September 2025 at 23:51

byJordan Reynolds

Since emerging a few years ago, Ben Shelton has swiftly established himself as one of the most electrifying and personable players on the ATP Tour.

Many fans find Shelton one of the most intriguing characters in tennis, but he has also irritated some opponents with his antics.

Shelton was born on October 9th, 2022, in Gainesville, Florida, United States. He is 193 cm tall (6 ft 4 in), weighs approximately 88 kg (194 lbs), and resides in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

When did Ben Shelton start playing tennis?

Shelton began playing at age 10, later than most others who have become professionals. His parents, Bryan and Lisa, did not pressure him to play regularly, but he started taking the sport seriously at age 12.

Who is Ben Shelton's father?

Bryan Shelton was the Florida Gators men's tennis coach until June 2023, leaving that role so he could travel with his son full-time on the ATP Tour. Ben has called him his biggest inspiration, and the pair share a bond that is evident during their matches.

Does Ben Shelton have any siblings?

Shelton's older sister is named Emma. She played college tennis in Florida and has been supportive of her brother, including getting additional time off from her job so she could watch him at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships.

Who were Ben Shelton's tennis idols?

Shelton has named Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Gael Monfils his idols. Federer and Monfils because of their entertaining styles, and Nadal because of his famous never-say-die attitude on the court.

Does Ben Shelton have a girlfriend?

In March 2025, Shelton announced his relationship with U.S. soccer player Trinity Rodman. She has been pictured at several of his matches since, including at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Has Ben Shelton ever won a Grand Slam?

Despite making superb progress since emerging on the ATP Tour, Shelton has yet to reach a major final. His best efforts so far were reaching the 2023 US Open and 2025 Australian Open semifinals.

What is Ben Shelton's most significant title to date?

Shelton won his first 1000-level title at the 2025 Canadian Open. He defeated Adrian Mannarino, Brandon Nakashima, Flavio Cobolli, Alex de Minaur, and Taylor Fritz before overcoming Karen Khachanov 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 in the final. That match in Toronto was interrupted by the crowd discovering that Victoria Mboko claimed the women's singles title in Montreal.

How many titles has Ben Shelton won?

The American is a three-time ATP titlist. His maiden crown occurred at the 2023 Japan Open. In April 2024, Shelton beat his good friend Frances Tiafoe to win at the 2024 Houston Open before his triumph in Toronto over 12 months later.

What is Ben Shelton's highest ranking?

Shelton reached his career-high ranking of No. 6 after winning the Canadian Open.

What is Ben Shelton's favorite surface?

Shelton likes playing on hard courts the most. He grew up playing on that surface and had never competed on clay or grass before turning professional, which makes his adjustment to those surfaces in the last few years very impressive.

What is Ben Shelton's best shot?

The 2023 US Open semifinalist possesses one of the best serves ever seen in tennis. Of current players, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is the only man who can claim to be a better server. Shelton's massive first delivery has consistently dug him out of challenging moments in tight matches.

What are Ben Shelton's hobbies?

Shelton enjoys watching movies and TV shows, with Suits being his favorite show and Top Gun: Maverick being his favorite movie. He also likes reading and considers The Outsiders to be the best book he has read. Shelton watches sports outside of tennis, such as American football and basketball.

What other sports has Ben Shelton played?

Shelton played quarterback in American Football before focusing solely on tennis. He was highly talented, and pursuing it as a career was possible until he chose tennis. The Canadian Open winner also enjoys track and field.

What was Ben Shelton's heated incident with Novak Djokovic at the 2023 US Open?

Djokovic defeated Shelton 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 in the 2023 US Open semifinal. In his previous five wins at that tournament, Shelton celebrated by pretending to be on the phone, indicating he was dialled in.

The legendary Djokovic became irritated with Shelton and his father during the contest, feeling they were not showing him proper respect. That led to the Serbian mimicking Shelton's celebration after match point. Although the multiple-time Grand Slam semifinalist said he did not mind, his father, Bryan, felt Djokovic's act was over the top.

What other heated moments has Ben Shelton been a part of?

At the 2025 Mexican Open in Acapulco, David Goffin was enraged by Shelton loudly celebrating him shanking a forehand into the air. The Belgian ended up having the last laugh. He mimicked Shelton's celebration after winning the next point before completing a 7-6, 6-3 victory.

At the 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters, Shelton teamed up with Rohan Bopanna in doubles against Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli. After losing to Shelton and Bopanna, Vavassori complained about the American aiming at him during the match, leading to the three-time ATP singles titlist calling the Italian "so soft."

Is Ben Shelton charitable?

Shelton's charitable activities include supporting the Gainesville-based charity Aces in Motion, an after-school youth development program that aims to use tennis for good.