Ben Shelton reveals the one tournament which ‘can’t be compared’ as he begins North American hard-court season

Ben Shelton says the feeling of playing the US Open cannot ‘compare’ to any other tournament, naming Taylor Townsend the best mixed doubles player in the world ‘by far’ weeks before they are due to partner up at the New York event.

The American is back in action this week at the Citi DC Open, seeded fourth, and will clash with fellow countryman MacKenzie McDonald in his first match.

Indeed, Shelton has already taken to the Washington courts, having teamed up with Frances Tiafoe in the men’s doubles category – losing their opening clash with John Peers and Matthew Ebden, 7-6(3), 6-3.

“The biggest goal is the US Open, but I love all the early tournaments, lead-up tournaments in the U.S. swing,” stated the world No 8 during his pre-tournament press conference.

“I think this is one of the tournaments with the best tennis crowds.

“There is a lot of energy around this tournament. It’s the reason that after a different slam, if it was, you know, two weeks after the slam ended and I was in the quarterfinals, I’d probably pull out and not play, but this is a tournament that I never want to miss, just because of the energy and excitement around it.

“Yeah, I’m happy to be here, looking forward to putting up good performances. I always say I want to go one step deeper than I went the year before, and that’s not always the case, but yeah, I hope to have some good results in this U.S. swing.”

It was the US Open in 2023 when Shelton truly exploded onto the tennis scene via a run to the final four, before falling to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

Likewise, the American most recently reached the quarter-finals at the 2024 edition of the tournament on the back of a last-eight result at the Cincinnati Masters just a few weeks prior.

This year, Shelton has played his best tennis at the Grand Slams, reaching his first semi-final at the Australian Open and maiden quarter-final at Wimbledon – losing both to world No 1 Jannik Sinner.

As a consequence of the consistent results, Shelton’s eighth position in the rankings is a new career high.

“Yeah, I guess I find peace in the chaos, because I feel more uncomfortable at the quiet tournaments where there is not much going on, not as many fans, or the ground isn’t packed with people, or there is not a stigma of excitement around the tournament,” the two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist commented.

“It’s like for me that’s what I live for, playing these tournaments. It’s like every tournament of the year there is other tournaments that are sick, that they’re cool, but for me just can’t compare, because that energy is not there when you’re driving from the city to the site or, you know, getting ready to walk out on Arthur Ashe.

“For me, there is no feeling like it. That’s my personal opinion. But that’s where I have always felt at home playing and the reason I feel like I play my best tennis there.”

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It is at the New York Grand Slam where Shelton has entered the revamped, and controversial, mixed doubles category.

The format has been subject to much online discussion, with the event taking place over two days in the week prior to the singles tournament – with games having deciding points at deuce, and sets being up to four games instead of six.

Shelton has teamed up with Taylor Townsend, the world No 97, who he believes is the best mixed doubles player ‘by far.’

“We’re both from Atlanta, we have known each other, been friends since I have been out on tour,” the world No 8 added.

“Obviously we made a semis run at the US Open. Personally, if I wasn’t still in the singles, we probably would have had a good shot at taking that title.

“Yeah, she’s the best mixed doubles player in the world, hands down. So, if I was going to play, I wasn’t going to play at all unless I could play with her.

“My dad was, like, there’s no point in playing if you’re not trying to win it and you don’t think you have a chance to win it. And she’s who I think I have a chance to win it with. It should be a lot of fun. We enjoy ourselves. We compete hard. But, you know, we clown out there also.

“Yeah, it’s a big prize. I forget what the prize money is for the tournament, but I feel like it’s ridiculous. It’s a mill? Yeah, I guess you could say we’ll be playing hard.”