Ben Shelton has faced Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner during his time on tour.
Ben Shelton has already faced some of the biggest names in men’s tennis, including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner. But when asked to name his favourite opponent on the ATP Tour, the American surprisingly went in a different direction.
During a recent Q&A on his YouTube channel, Shelton pointed to Arthur Fils as the player he enjoys competing against the most. The two young stars have already met three times on tour, building a rivalry that has quickly become one of the more entertaining matchups among the ATP’s next generation.
Ben Shelton says Arthur Fils brings out the best in him
Speaking during the fan Q&A, Shelton did not hesitate when naming his preferred opponent.
“Arthur Fils. No doubt.”
Shelton currently leads the head-to-head series 2-1 after victories at the 2024 Swiss Indoors and the 2023 Laver Cup. Fils claimed his lone win at the 2024 Japan Open in a tight three-set battle.
The rivalry was temporarily paused after Fils missed several months through injury, but with the Frenchman now back in strong form, another meeting later this season looks increasingly likely.
Shelton also highlighted several of the best performances of his career so far, including wins over Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, and Sinner. One match he singled out in particular was his dramatic comeback victory against the Italian at the 2023 Shanghai Masters.
Shelton reveals major ambition for the 2028 Olympics
Away from the ATP Tour, Shelton admitted that representing the United States at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles is one of the biggest goals of his career.
“Yes, it’s a big goal for me. I want to be there in 2028.”
Shelton skipped the 2024 Olympics to focus on the North American hard-court swing, but he is already looking ahead to the next edition of the Games on home soil.
If he eventually captures singles gold, Shelton would become the first American man since Andre Agassi to achieve the feat in the Open Era. Agassi famously won Olympic gold in Atlanta back in 1996, also competing in front of a home crowd.
For now, Shelton’s focus remains on the Italian Open, where he enters as the fifth seed and could potentially set up another high-profile clash with either Fils or Sinner later in the tournament.
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