Ben Shelton – the electric American ready to ignite the ATP Finals

As the ATP Finals kick off in Turin this weekend, all eyes will be on the elite eight vying for year-end glory. Among them is American Ben Shelton, 23, who stands out not just as a debutant, but also the undeniable player to watch.

Fresh off clinching his spot by storming into the quarter-finals at the Paris Masters – where he toppled Andrey Rublev in a last-16 spectacle dubbed by the ATP Tour as the work of “Shelton the Showman” – the world No. 6 has transformed from a promising talent into a genuine threat.

His qualification marks the first time two Americans, Shelton and Taylor Fritz, have graced the event since 2006, snapping a 19-year drought and injecting fresh US swagger into the mix.

But what elevates Shelton beyond the baseline? It is his magnetic off-court persona – a blend of charm, unfiltered humour and an unshakeable family bond – that promises to put him in the spotlight.

His 2025 season has been a roller coaster of breakthroughs, underscoring his rapid ascent.

Kicking off with a maiden semi-final appearance at the Australian Open, where he signalled big intentions, he carried that momentum through to the clay swing.

At Roland Garros, his electric baseline battles and booming serves lit up the Parisian crowds, and even tennis legend John McEnroe singled him out as one to watch by publicly offering to become his coach.

Grass proved fertile too; a first quarter-final run at Wimbledon showcased his adaptability, where he quipped in a post-match interview about his quarterback-playing days contributing to his big serve.

Primarily, throwing the football has contributed to his arm strength.

“I’m not sure many people in the crowd know what that is. I grew up playing quarterback,” he said. “And probably the only thing that’s a great correlation with tennis is the serve, as you guys can probably see.”

The hard-court summer peaked with a crowning achievement – his maiden Masters 1000 title in Toronto. Lifting the trophy, Shelton poured out gratitude in a raw, heartfelt speech.

“I want to thank God. I feel so blessed. To have opportunities like this, not many people in life get to experience things like this,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

“The joy I feel today isn’t just because of the win. It’s because of the people I get to spend every day with... Especially my mum and my sister and my girlfriend. They’ve been with me every single day, even though they haven’t been here in Canada.”

He reserved special praise for his father and coach, Bryan.

“A father who believes in me, who pushes me. He’s honest with me. He doesn’t sugar-coat things... He lets me know when I’m not being aggressive enough on court,” he added.

“But he also lets me know when I’m playing good ball. It’s been pretty special to share these moments with you out here.”

The North American swing continued with a third-round exit at the US Open.

Yet, Shelton rebounded fiercely in the fall. In Paris, he overcame Flavio Cobolli in a gritty second-round clash, before his win over Rublev secured the Turin ticket. A quarter-final loss to Jannik Sinner exposed areas for growth against top-tier precision, but Shelton’s serve-volley flair and raw power kept it entertaining.

Statistically, his year boasts a career-high ranking, multiple deep runs and that Toronto triumph, propelling him into the top eight for the first time.

As he told reporters post-Paris, reflecting on the season’s ebbs and flows: “It hasn’t been just winning all the time... It’s been a roller coaster.”

This resilience, forged in the fires of college tennis at the University of Florida – where he won the NCAA singles title in 2022 – positions him as a dark horse in Turin.

Off the court, though, Shelton’s allure lies in his relatability, a stark contrast to the stoic intensity of peers like Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.

Born in Atlanta on Oct 9, 2002, he grew up in Gainesville, Florida, where his family’s love for tennis was as natural as breathing. His father, Bryan, a former ATP pro who peaked at world No. 55 and claimed singles titles in 1991 and 1992, transitioned from coaching the Florida Gators to a full-time role with Ben in 2023.

Bryan, now 59, is not just a tactician; he is the steady hand guiding his son through victories and slumps – Ben publicly said post-Wimbledon that his father has always been his inspiration.

Ben’s mother, Lisa Witsken Shelton, adds another layer to this athletic lineage.

Per the New York Times, she “was also an accomplished junior player and is the sister of the former world No. 4 doubles and No. 43 singles player Todd Witsken”.

The couple, married since 1999, raised Ben alongside older sister Emma (born 2001), who also plays tennis.

Yet, Ben’s path was not predestined for tennis courts. A self-proclaimed American football nut, “nothing was more thrilling than slinging a football around”, according to a 2022 ATP Tour article.

“He just knew so much about the game and was just such a fan of it,” Bryan said.

But Ben also grew up around tennis with his father, and this dual-sport upbringing infuses his game with an aggressive, improvisational edge – think audacious drop shots mid-rally or that signature fist-pump roar that echoes like a touchdown celebration.

Around age 12, Ben knew that as much as he loved football, he had to focus on tennis.

“I thought I could have more of a future in tennis,” Shelton said. “Obviously football is pretty hard on your body. I don’t know how much longer my mum wanted me to keep taking hits and obviously with my dad playing pro and being a collegiate coach.”

His charisma shines brightest in unscripted moments, turning interviews into brilliant soundbites.

At the 2025 Australian Open, after reaching the semi-finals, he did not mince words about on-court interviewers, calling out their jabs: “Today on the court, ‘Hey, Ben, how does it feel that no matter who you play in your next match, no-one is going to be cheering for you?’ I thought that was a little disrespectful.”

His rapport with fans is equally infectious; during a US Open wave that briefly derailed his focus, he later deadpanned: “I was trying to stay focused, but they weren’t doing the wave for me.

“They were doing the wave for that guy (fan) in the pink hat. He’s the one that started it, he’s the one that got the energy going.”

One thing is for sure, he has started making waves in the tennis world.

As Shelton steps onto the court in Turin this weekend, his blend of on-court firepower and off-court authenticity could spark fireworks.

He is not just playing for points; he is embodying the next generation of American tennis, one laugh, serve and family hug at a time. Watch him closely – he might just steal the show.