The secret is in the smile.
Ben Shelton has thrilled audiences around the world with his flamethrower serve, and he can throw it fast as a dart or sculpt it like a master smith with the spin of his choice. But when the American starts to crack his trademark smile, you know he’s having fun and enjoying the moment. That’s a sign that Big Match Ben is flying full speed ahead.
Many tennis players just dream of playing in the “big match.” Shelton lives to compete in that match. And in the big match, Ben has proven that he can win the moment no matter what. He will be hoping to do so again on Sunday against Yannick Sinner in the fourth round of Wimbledon.
“He’s one of the most successful players on tour so far this year as the world No. 1,” Shelton said. “I think this is a huge opportunity for me. It’s a huge challenge and a test. It’s the biggest challenge in tennis, playing against the No. 1 in the world.”
Don’t expect Shelton to shy away from the challenge of facing the PIF ATP No. 1. Ten months ago, they opened the Lexus ATP Head2Head series in Shanghai, where Shelton was looking to make his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal.
Sinner, who was already on an unforgettable climb to the top of the sport, took the first set 6-2. There was a big difference in level and big match experience. But Shelton didn’t care.
The 2022 NCAA singles champion claimed a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) victory over the Italian giant. In an on-court interview, Shelton offered valuable insight into his mental toughness.
“I think I was probably addicted to playing on the big stage,” Shelton said. “I didn’t have a normal upbringing in tennis, and I didn’t have my first year on tour. I was a little behind in figuring it all out as I went along.”
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The left-hander made his first Grand Slam main draw appearance at the 2022 US Open and has advanced to at least the fourth round in three of his eight majors. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have not done so. Like Shelton, Sinner and Andy Murray have each accomplished the feat three times in eight Slams. Three-time major champion Stan Waurinka has not reached the last 16 of a Grand Slam until his 11th.
Shelton is one of seven American male players to have reached the fourth round of at least three major tournaments before turning 22. Four of the other six (Jimmy Connors, Jim Courier, Andy Roddick and Pete Sampras) are ranked No. 1 in the world.
One of the big reasons Shelton has been so successful at the Slams (winning 71% of his matches there compared to 56% at all tour-level events) is that he’s not afraid of the big stage. That’s something that Scott Perelman, who spent 11 years as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Florida and has been an assistant coach for another year, says has helped Shelton grow.
Ben played soccer as a kid, and Perelman watched him compete fearlessly against opponents who were bigger and older than him.
“You can tell he had no fear as a kid. He’s playing against guys twice his size. That’s another talent of his,” Perelman told ATPTour.com last year. “He embraces the moment of challenge rather than having any kind of hesitation or concern or worry about how big the stage is or how big the moment is going to be. He definitely seems to enjoy himself in the biggest moments.”
Ahead of the Sinner game, Perelman expanded on that idea. The coach called Shelton “the greatest competitor you’ll ever meet.” No matter the game, Shelton wants to win.
“Benny is fearless under pressure,” Perelman said.[He] He’s got a big personality. He’s the kind of guy who walks into a room and lights up the room. He’s also the kind of guy who loves to perform in front of big crowds. Benny also understands what it means for great people to stand up at the biggest moments… It’s a pretty good combination.”
It’s no exaggeration to say that it runs in the family. Thirty years ago, Ben’s father and coach, Brian Shelton, surprised world number two Michael Stitch on his way to the fourth round at Wimbledon. On Saturday, Brian sat in Ben’s box and watched his son hit his SW19 mark.
“It feels really great to be able to share this moment together,” Shelton said. “I never thought we’d be in this position at this point, but I’m so grateful for everything that’s happened.”
Big Ben arrives at 4 ✌️ @wimbledon | #wimbledon pic.twitter.com/HpxzWBXJRj
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 6, 2024
When Ben was a kid, professional tennis was far from his mind. He was always on the college team his father coached, and eventually he and his older sister Emma started taking morning lessons from Brian.
Brian didn’t often tell his son about his “glory days” on the ATP Tour, where he rose to No. 55 in the PIF ATP rankings. North Star was Brian’s college team.
“That was kind of how closed off my mind was to how far I could go in sports and what was possible,” Shelton said. “So knowing those guys and growing up with them, and then being able to go to the University of Florida, that was it for me. That was my dream, that was what I wanted to do.”
It’s hard to tell how comfortable Shelton is at the world’s biggest tournaments. He’s more than just a tennis player on the world’s most famous court. Last year’s Tokyo champion was a commanding presence.
Shelton is not afraid to get the crowd excited by his proper shot-making and encourages them to get excited. If he plays a great point, you know it. He is not just a competitor, he is a performer.
“Benny is at his best when he’s smiling and having fun,” Perelman said.
Shelton will certainly take it all when he takes to Court 1 on Sunday to face Sinner. The Italian is 2-1 in the Lexus ATP Head2Head series, and Shelton has needed five sets in his first three matches at Wimbledon. But regardless of the opponent or the obstacles, the American lives for this moment.
“I’m not one of those guys that goes into a game feeling scared or unprepared,” Shelton said. “I’m always confident in my abilities, no matter who’s on the other side of the net.
“I’m 100 percent ready to go all the way. If I have to go five sets again tomorrow, I’ll be ready to go all the way.”
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