After a busy media day at the US Open in Flushing, Queens, 22-year-old Ben Shelton—the tournament’s sixth seed—arrives outside New York’s Polo Bar around 9 p.m. He steps out of his Escalade looking tall and confident, wearing a vintage Olympics-themed bomber jacket and a handful of silver necklaces. Almost immediately, a passerby shouts, “Ben! No way.” Shelton gives him a high-five, and the fan tells him to “give ’em hell!” It’s a quick reminder that Shelton is rapidly becoming one of tennis’s biggest stars—both widely recognized and easygoing enough to handle the attention.
His star has only grown brighter in recent weeks after he won the most important title of his career: the Canadian Open in Toronto, a Masters 1000 event—the second-highest tier of tournaments after the Grand Slams. Among active American men, only Shelton and Taylor Fritz have won at this level.
The victory was a long-awaited breakthrough that tennis experts had predicted, as long as Shelton could refine his game. He needed to mature past some early-career flashiness (remember his phone-celebration gesture, which Novak Djokovic later seemed to mimic?), sharpen his focus, improve his movement, and rely less on his powerful first serve.
Shelton has clearly improved in all those areas. He’s now into the second round of the US Open after a straightforward win over Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse on Sunday.
“For me, it was all about consistency,” Shelton says, reflecting on what lifted his game in Canada. “I was solid from the baseline, serving and returning well, and willing to come to the net. Everything just clicked, and that steady level helped me build momentum match after match.”
He adds, “I’m bringing that same mindset into the US Open. Staying consistent is even more important in best-of-five matches—it helps you wear down opponents over the long run. It’s also about confidence: believing you can bounce back even if you drop a set. You have more chances in a longer match. So yeah, consistency is my focus right now—in practice and in matches.”
Shelton’s popularity also stems from his close family ties, which fans clearly appreciate. His father, Bryan, is his coach—a charismatic presence who often wears a microphone during matches to share live coaching insights with commentators, something no other coach does regularly.
“He likes to share,” Shelton says. “I think it’s great for fans to get a real-time look at how players are coached in big moments. I’m not trying to keep any secrets—I think it’s cool.”
The Shelton family also won hearts—and gave Morgan Stanley some positive press—during Wimbledon this year, when Ben’s sister, Emma, was granted extra time off by her employer to stay in London and watch her brother play. “They’re letting her work from the New York office for a few days during the tournament,” Shelton says with a laugh.
The biggest off-court attention, though, revolves around Shelton’s relationship with Trinity Rodman, the Olympic gold medalist and soccer star (and, yes, daughter of Dennis Rodman, though they’re not close). The couple went public in March and haven’t been shy since. Rodman is often seen cheering from Shelton’s box, and she even took a red-eye from California to catch his first match at this year’s US Open.
“It’s really cool for both of us to see each other excel in our sports and understand firsthand how demanding it all is,” Shelton says.”Staying at the top is the real challenge,” says Shelton. “The world of soccer, the US Women’s National Team—it was all pretty new to me, and I’ve really enjoyed learning about it and understanding her experience within it.”
He adds, “If there’s any common advice, it’s definitely about the mental side of things—not so much the skills. Mental toughness, perseverance, handling setbacks—I think that’s universal across all sports, really.”
Tonight, Shelton will take on Spain’s Pablo Carreño Busta—unseeded but still a threat—in Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Ben Sheltons potential at the US Open designed to be clear and helpful for all levels of tennis fans
General Beginner Questions
Q Who is Ben Shelton
A Ben Shelton is a young rising American tennis star known for his powerful lefthanded serve and aggressive playing style He turned professional in 2022 after a successful college career
Q What does a breakthrough mean in tennis
A A breakthrough typically means a player achieves a significant new milestone like defeating topranked opponents reaching the final stages of a major tournament for the first time or winning their first major title
Q Why is there so much hype around him for the US Open
A The hype comes from his explosive power his rapid rise in the rankings and his deep run to the Australian Open quarterfinals earlier this year As a young American theres extra excitement for him to perform well at his home Grand Slam
Q Has he done well at the US Open before
A The 2023 US Open was only his second appearance In 2022 he lost in the first round In 2023 he made a fantastic run all the way to the semifinals which was a massive breakthrough and the main reason for the current high expectations
Advanced Strategic Questions
Q What are Sheltons biggest strengths that could lead to a breakthrough
A His biggest weapons are his massive serve and his powerful forehand Hes also incredibly athletic covers the court well and has a confident fearless mentality in big matches
Q What are the main challenges or weaknesses he needs to overcome
A His main challenges are consistency and experience He can sometimes be errorprone on his groundstrokes and his backhand while improved is not as strong as his forehand His net game and point construction are still developing compared to top veterans
Q How does the fast hard court at the US Open suit his game