Ben Shelton's US Open Run Draws Major Backing
Ben Shelton's US Open final run has strengthened Kim Clijsters' belief that he can win a Grand Slam.
A final that changed the conversation
Ben Shelton reached the US Open final and lost to Alexander Zverev in four sets. It was Shelton's deepest run at the event and another step in a season that has moved him closer to the sport's leading group.
The American is ranked No. 6 and has gone 8-2 across his last ten completed matches. That recent record gives the final more weight, especially after he had defended his Canadian Open title shortly before arriving in New York. The defeat still hurt. It did not erase the progress.
Clijsters sees greater control
Kim Clijsters believes Shelton's growth has shown most clearly in how he handles big moments. She pointed to a player who can now manage his energy and emotions more carefully, rather than relying only on the force of his shots.
“His maturity on court, how he keeps the adrenaline under control and uses it at the right times,” Clijsters said. Shelton's serve and movement were already major strengths, but the former top-ranked player sees a more patient competitor emerging in long matches. That shift can matter greatly at the biggest events.
A major win remains the target
Clijsters expects Shelton to win a Grand Slam at some point. Her assessment follows a tournament in which he beat Carlos Alcaraz, a seven-time major champion, before falling one match short of the title.
Alcaraz is ranked No. 2 and also carries an 8-2 record from his last ten completed matches. Beating a player of that level showed Shelton can sustain his game against elite opposition over a demanding match. Still, his backhand, return and shot choices remain areas for improvement. Those details often decide the final rounds.
Turin remains in view
Shelton has moved into the top group of the ATP Tour Race, with Zverev and Jannik Sinner ahead of him. The race now gives him a clear late-season objective: join the field for the year ending ATP Tour Finals in Turin.
Zverev is ranked No. 3 and has won 9 of his last ten completed matches. Shelton has also withdrawn from the upcoming Laver Cup in London, where Brandon Nakashima will take his place. The break removes one event from his schedule, while leaving his attention on the next major tests.
Court Shark win probabilities are statistical estimates, not advice. No outcome is guaranteed.
Methodology and sources
How we build model estimates and where our information comes from.
Sources and citations
Rankings and recent results for the players named come from the Court Shark match database. The story is public tennis news, written up by the desk in its own words.
Limitations
Player figures are a snapshot taken when the story was written and do not update after publication.
About the desk
Who writes the Journal and how an article is put together. Read about the desk
Editorial standards
What we publish, what we check and how we decide what is fit to print. Read our standards
Corrections
Spotted an error? Write to hello@courtshark.ai and we will correct it and note the change. Read the corrections policy