Tommy Paul reveals why Ben Shelton will keep rising in 2024

Tommy Paul says that the emergence of Ben Shelton has been a shot in the arm for American tennis.

Paul says that the bubbly and excitable energy the young man brings to the tour has been great for the established American players.

While Taylor Fritz is the only American in the top 10 right now, he is joined in the top 20 by Frances Tiafoe, Paul and Shelton.

Shelton broke into the top 20 for the first time this week after an excellent campaign across 2023.

Paul says that the American tennis elite feels like a brotherhood and Shelton has lifted the energy of the whole group.

“It’s fun having him around. He’s definitely young. He’s got that young-kid energy, so it’s a lot of fun, especially with the group of older guys that we have now,” Paul said.

Shelton’s father, Bryan is a respected figure within the game in the United States and Paul knew him before his first meeting with the popular young star.

He says that the older American players like to look out for young Shelton but he wouldn’t suggest that any of them are really mentoring him.

“No, it’s awesome. I didn’t know Ben Shelton too much, like, when he was 17 or younger, but I knew his dad a bit. And when he first came on the tour, I mean, I wouldn’t say I took him under my wing or anything, but I liked the kid, and I knew he was going to be good,” Paul said.

Paul says that the emergence of Shelton makes him feel like he has aged prematurely, as he is now a veteran of the game by comparison.

“I mean, it’s weird to call us older guys, but, like, coming up with Foe and Fritz. We just have a bunch of good players, so it’s cool to have that young guy come in and really push us. I mean, it’s almost bringing us together in a way,” Tommy Paul said.

“Yeah, absolutely. I think you see it in a lot of different generations in tennis. This one, it’s pretty cool,” he added.

Tiafoe has dropped out of the top ten to leave Fritz as the lone American in that strata but Paul still feels that US men’s tennis is going from strength to strength.

“We have like, two people in the top 10. So it’s kind of cool that we’re actually up at the top of the game. I mean, all our best athletes go into other sports, so there’s our excuse, I guess,” Paul said.

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