Ben Shelton

Ben Shelton is box-office tennis, and if you haven’t watched him play yet, do yourself a favour and tune in immediately. The left-handed American possesses a serve that regularly exceeds 230km/h — making him one of the hardest servers in the history of the sport (not the history of American tennis, the history of the entire sport) — and his 2023 US Open semi-final run at just 20 years of age announced him as a future Grand Slam champion. He’s backed that up with continued improvement and multiple ATP titles since.

Here’s what sets Shelton apart from the next generation: he was a legitimate college basketball prospect before committing fully to tennis, and that athletic explosiveness translates to everything he does on court. The forehand is a weapon, the serve is devastating, and his willingness to go for broke in big moments is genuinely fearless. At the 2025 Australian Open, Shelton reached the semi-finals with a series of commanding performances that had Melbourne Park buzzing.

The charisma is undeniable too. That trademark uppercut fist pump, the energy he brings between points, the way he feeds off big crowds — Australian Open audiences have absolutely embraced Ben Shelton. His trajectory suggests we’ll be watching him in the latter stages of Grand Slams for the next decade, and I for one cannot wait.

Career Statistics

Player Profile

Ben Shelton is must-watch tennis, full stop. His Australian Open semi-final run proved he belongs on the biggest stages, and his combination of devastating power and infectious energy makes him one of the most electrifying athletes in world sport right now. The Grand Slam title is coming — it’s just a matter of when, not if — and Melbourne might be the place where it happens.

NC — Staff sports writer, australiafootball.com