Shelton is back: "I have many more things to accomplish this year"

Carlos Navarro | 1 Oct 2025 | 17.50

Ben Shelton has not competed since the last US Open. Now, he's returning in Shanghai. Source: Getty

Streaming ATP Eastbourne live tennis

🎾 Jack Draper vs Gabriel Diallo

Sign up with Bet365 here
Make your first deposit of at least €5
Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

Ben Shelton has become one of the standout names of the season by his own merit. Just over a month ago, he was actually considered one of the top contenders to disrupt the dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in New York... but his path was hindered by every tennis player's worst nightmare: injuries. It was his left shoulder that knocked out the American in the midst of the round of 16 clash against Mannarino, a painful halt to a rapid growth curve.

But Ben Shelton is back. With renewed energy, after taking a well-deserved break and with the feeling that there are still several very exciting goals remaining in the year. The American returns at the ATP Shanghai 2025 after skipping several commitments (Davis Cup, Laver Cup, and ATP Tokyo) with the aim of recovering 100% from the issues that held him back at Flushing Meadows. Is he at 100% physically? He responds to this question himself in comments collected by ATP.

"It's improving. Like any injury, you need some recovery time. I wouldn't attend a tournament unless I felt ready, which is why I skipped several events, but now I should be ready to play", says a still somewhat cautious Ben, but aware that the worst is behind him. After opening his Masters 1000 account in Canada and experiencing what he described as the worst pain of his career, with all kinds of sensations in his breakout season, the good work in this 2025 guides him towards a rewarding goal: the ATP Finals in Turin, where he aims to become a "master" for the first time.

"I'm very excited. It's the first time I find myself in a good position at this time of the year to reach Turin. I hope to achieve a couple more great results and secure my spot. I'm very pleased with how I've played this season and all that I've been able to achieve, but I'm not done yet; there are still more things I want to accomplish in this 2025, so we'll see where we stand in a month". Shelton's situation, at first glance, is privileged: he leads Felix Auger-Aliassime, the first name that would miss the cut, by 1005 points, with two Masters 1000 and a potential ATP 500 still to be played.

A MOTIVATING QUIRK FOR HIM TO GIVE IT ALL IN SHANGHAI

The American has no choice but to take it step by step, gradually warming up that left shoulder, and benefiting, why not, from the speed of the courts at this time of the year to not overexert himself physically. The first stop in his comeback is a tournament in Shanghai which holds great memories for him: here he defeated Jannik Sinner a couple of seasons ago, reaching the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000 for the first time... and this season, being among the top eight seeds, has earned him an interesting privilege: having his own dressing room.

"You feel that necessary peace and tranquility. I waste so much time in the locker rooms when I start talking to everyone, so I guess it's something positive for me to be able to concentrate more easily here, to come in and out without losing so much time", he says, with laughter and the charisma that characterizes him, with Ben already knowing his first-round opponent: it will be the Belgian David Goffin, in what will be a true generational clash. Hungry and eager, the Atlanta native seeks to give his all in a final sprint that looks promising.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shelton está de vuelta: "Me quedan muchas más cosas que cumplir este año"

Ben Shelton