Ben Shelton is one of the most talented players to emerge from the United States in recent years, but he's still a bit of a rough diamond.
The young American player started his career on the ATP Tour a bit later than some of his peers. The reason for that was simple: he chose a different path, focusing on his education at the University of Florida while playing tennis for the Florida Gators.
His talent first became apparent in 2022. In three weeks, he won three consecutive ATP Challenger tournaments to finish the year inside of the Top 100.
Until that point, he had never traveled outside of the United States. That changed at the start of the following season, as he qualified for the Australian Open and immediately reached the quarter-finals at his maiden major outside of the United States.
His rise only continued in 2023, culminating with a semi-final run at the US Open. In 2023, he finished the season as the World No. 17, and Shelton continued to impress also this year.
Although he ended the year ranked lower (21st), he recorded many more wins this year compared to last year. While he lost 26 matches in both seasons, he won 42 in 2024 while winning only 28 in 2023.
It was another year full of learning for the 22-year-old player, who improved on all surfaces, recording twice as many wins on both clay and grass compared to 2023.
Still, there is plenty he can learn to become an even more consistent player. Arnaud Clement, who is a former World No. 10 and 2001 Australian Open finalist, spoke to Eurosport about the areas that the young American player could improve in.
Clement recognized that Shelton is a player who can produce an extraordinary amount of energy, but at the same time, the 46-year-old Frenchman asserted that he must learn to use it right away.
The former ATP player made a comparison to Roger Federer, who, early in his career, was also a player who was prone to using his energy the wrong way before becoming probably the most elegant and calm player in the history of the sport.
"Shelton must channel his energy into something positive, learn to control himself on the court. Even though he had different problems and was more angry than him, Federer did it in an extraordinary way, in a fairly short transition between who he was and who he has become."
According to Clement, Shelton's "explosive temperament" can cost him energy not only during matches but accumulated throughout a tournament or a season; it can cost him a lot in the long run.
"When you have an explosive temperament, it is very tiring and you pay for it during a match, a tournament or even a season. Being a little calmer and having his energy peaks at the right time can allow him to raise his average level."
Shelton ended his 2024 season by losing twice at the Davis Cup Finals, and he will certainly use those losses as fuel for his preparations for the 2025 season. He certainly has the talent necessary to thrive, and the only question is whether he will be able to translate it into trophies.
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