Ben Shelton Opens Up About Jannik Sinner After the Victory

Ben Shelton played the best tennis of his life in Montreal. With top players Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic—and with so many top seeds eliminated in the early rounds—the American player seized the opportunity and defended the title he won last season in Canada, dominating the tournament and positioning himself as a contender for the US Open, which begins later this month.

At a press conference following his victory, Shelton made a clear reference to Sinner and Alcaraz, whom he considers crucial role models for his career. So far, his head-to-head record against them has been lopsided (he has lost twelve out of thirteen matches against the South Tyrolean and the Murcian), but Shelton hasn’t lost hope, and the title in Canada has clearly given him confidence heading into the upcoming tournaments.

“For me, it’s a continuous process of growth,” he explained. “I like having people ahead of me—role models I can follow. It’s always been that way throughout my career; I’ve never been the best, but I’ve always chased the best, like Jannik and Carlos. I think this has pushed me in every aspect of my tennis game and helped me grow.”

Shelton then issued this challenge: “I’ll keep working; I want to keep chasing the guys ahead of me to try to catch up to them, but at the same time, I have to stay ahead of the young players who are starting to make their mark on the tour.” He’s referring to Jodar, Fonseca, and the other rising stars who are beginning to challenge the established players: “The future of this sport lies with players of the highest caliber, and they won’t stop. There are many others who are emerging. That’s why you have to constantly improve; otherwise, you’ll be overtaken and left behind.”