Ben Shelton’s game ‘more suited’ to Wimbledon conditions, says tennis great
Ben Shelton has been backed to “shine” over the next couple of months with tennis great Jimmy Connors saying he could “reach the pinnacle if he looks after himself and his game”.
Shelton has reached a new milestone in his young career as he has replaced Taylor Fritz as the American No 1.
The 21-year-old climbed to a career-high No 14 last week after winning his second title, the US Men’s Clay Court Championships on clay in Houston.
With Fritz slumping two places in the rankings to No 15 after losing in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters, Shelton was confirmed as the top-ranked player from the United States on Monday.
He is the youngest American No 1 since Andy Roddick achieved the feat in March 2004 and he joins Roddick, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors to be the top-ranked player from the United States before turning 22.
And while Shelton has now proven he can win titles on clay and hard courts (his first title was on the hard courts in Japan in October 2023), former world No 1 Connors feels he could have success at Wimbledon.
“That’s real youth. He is big and strong, he has a big game. For him to win on clay, he’s got some confidence now,” the eight-time Grand Slam winner said on the Advantage Connors podcast.
“It’s going to be interesting to see the next couple of months, getting into the French [Open] and then through to Wimbledon. I would think his game is more suited for the Wimbledon conditions.”
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The left-handed Shelton is known for his big serve – which is a potent tool on grass – powerful groundstrokes and speed across the court.
Connors added: “I think the next couple of months on clay, whatever it does for him, it’s going to get him in good shape, that’s one thing for sure.
“If he can get in there and get stuck in and play some matches and have some success, as he had shown in Houston, but then going to the grass… I think these next couple of months, he’s going to reach the pinnacle if he looks after himself and his game. Conditions are a little bit different, maybe a little bit quicker… time for him to shine there, it might be a good opportunity for him.”
