Ben Shelton is emerging as a strong contender to break the long-standing drought for a US men’s Grand Slam singles champion, according to former player and commentator Patrick McEnroe.
While American women have dominated the Grand Slam scene over the past two decades, it’s been 21 years since an American man has claimed a major title. The last to do so was Andy Roddick, who lifted the US Open trophy in 2003. For years, Roddick also held the distinction of being the last American male to reach a Grand Slam final until Taylor Fritz ended that 15-year gap by making it to the US Open final this past September, mirroring Roddick’s journey to his fifth and final major final at Wimbledon in 2009.
Fritz has had an impressive season, achieving consistent results by reaching the quarter-finals at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, solidifying his position as the top American player. However, McEnroe believes Shelton holds the greater potential to win a major in the future
On the Tennis Channel’s Inside-In Podcast, McEnroe remarked that Shelton’s ability to compete against top players sets him apart from his peers, including Fritz and Sebastian Korda. He stated, “I’d like to say there’s a younger American. I’ve always been high on Korda, but he just seems a little bit fragile physically. He can’t quite stay healthy enough to be a factor in a big tournament.”
He continued, “Then you’ve got Fritz, who’s the most consistent American guy. I think a lot of things have to break right for Fritz to win a major, but he got to the US Open final, and that was a hell of an effort.”
What excites McEnroe about Shelton is his potential for growth. “Ben Shelton’s got the most upside. Watching him at the Laver Cup these past two years has been eye-opening. In his match against Alcaraz, even though he lost in straight sets, the first 7-8 games showcased tennis at a different level.
“He couldn’t maintain that for two sets, but if he can match Alcaraz in terms of athleticism and shot-making for even a short stretch, then maybe he is the guy.”
Currently ranked 19th in the ATP Rankings, Shelton returned to the top 20 following his runner-up finish at the Swiss Indoors this past Sunday. At just 22 years old, he has already clinched two ATP titles and made significant strides in major tournaments, reaching the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and the semi-finals at the US Open in 2023. Right now, he stands as the fourth-ranked American player, trailing behind Fritz, Tommy Paul, and Frances Tiafoe.