Ben Shelton has a long way to before he can challenge Alcaraz and Sinner

Ben Shelton will need to improve his technical, physical, and mental skills if he wants to beat Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on the biggest stages.

Shelton's rise on the ATP Tour has been among the most positive developments of the last few years. His powerful game and unique personality make him someone who will entertain fans for years to come.

The American's accomplishments, including reaching the Top 10, make some wonder whether he can challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at the most significant tournaments. This article outlines why he has much work ahead to achieve that.

Shelton won his first match against Sinner at the 2023 Shanghai Masters. After a thrilling battle, he held his nerve better to narrowly prevail 2-6, 6-3, 7-6, and secure one of the most impressive victories of his career.

However, Sinner, who had never won a Grand Slam when he played Shelton in Shanghai, has made incredible progress since. He is a four-time major champion, ATP Finals winner, and held the No. 1 ranking for over a year until Alcaraz overtook him at the 2025 US Open.

Since becoming dominant against everyone outside of Alcaraz, Sinner has won 15 consecutive sets against Shelton in six matches. That includes two defeats at Wimbledon and one at the 2025 Australian Open.

Shelton has never beaten Alcaraz. After losing to him in straight sets at the 2023 Canadian Open and the 2024 Laver Cup, he managed to win one set at the 2025 French Open in a 6-7, 4-6, 6-3, 4-6 defeat.

Although his matches against Alcaraz are especially entertaining due to their shot-making skills, losing nine out of ten times, including the last eight, against the Top two creates a mental hurdle that Shelton will need to navigate.

Even if Shelton stays mentally strong and does not let those previous losses impact him, he is still very unlikely to defeat either man until he resolves his technical and physical weaknesses.

Shelton's outstanding serve is his most significant weapon and helps him in every match. Only Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who is inferior to the American in all other areas, possesses a better serve.

The American's excellent forehand and volleying can also challenge the best. Unfortunately for Shelton's fans, his less impressive return and backhand mean he lacks Sinner and Alcaraz's completeness.

Sinner has exposed Shelton's return severely. He has only broken the world No. 2 four times during the last 15 sets, being repeatedly punished for not getting enough balls into play or effectively attacking the second serve.

Against most opponents, Shelton can rely on his serve and focus on getting enough returns in to start the rally at 50/50. That is inadequate against Alcaraz and Sinner, especially since Shelton's baseline game is also not as strong as theirs.

Shelton possesses a good variety on his backhand, including a solid slice, but that is not enough to trouble the Top two players. They repeatedly peppered that wing in their matches against him to great effect, generating consistent errors.

Despite his record against them, Shelton applies the correct tactical approach in his battles against Alcaraz and Sinner. He tries to be aggressive and unsettle them, knowing that passively rallying and being defensive will not work.

The 2023 US Open semifinalist's movement is vastly inferior to the multiple-time Grand Slam champions. Being as speedy around the court might have helped to cover other weaknesses.

Therefore, Shelton, who usually thrives on playing with intensity and making opponents feel they lack time on return and from the baseline, is consistently left off-balance and unable to execute his groundstrokes efficiently.

Matching Alcaraz and Sinner's movement will probably never be possible, but he must close that gap and improve his backhand and return to be more successful against them. Enhancing one or two of those three areas will not be good enough.

At the 2025 Canadian Open, Shelton capitalized on Alcaraz and Sinner's absence from the tournament to win his maiden Masters 1000 title. That was a great achievement and should not be downplayed.

However, the task of beating Alcaraz and/or Sinner to win Grand Slams is another level. Shelton has not reached a major final yet, and, unless something dramatic changes, Shelton will probably need to beat both of them to triumph at the highest level.

Even if Shelton defeats one of them or capitalizes on either being absent to progress to a first Grand Slam final, he would start at a disadvantage because his rivals are more experienced on that stage.

Alcaraz has been in seven Grand Slam finals, winning six, and Sinner has triumphed in four of his six finals. Shelton needs to make the technical and physical improvements mentioned previously first, but the mentality required for a Grand Slam will be another hurdle.