The unexpected confession of Ben Shelton before the ATP Rome

Pedro de Pablos | 6 May 2026 | 10.59

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Ben Shelton is one of the biggest superstars of the ATP circuit. The American tennis player has significantly evolved in recent years, and ahead of the 2026 ATP Rome, he surprised by confessing that, despite being a server, clay courts are starting to become his favorites after winning in Munich.

This is not the first ATP tournament that Shelton has won on this surface, as he lifted the trophy in Houston in 2024. However, it is true that each year he appears more comfortable on clay. In fact, at Roland Garros 2025, he made life difficult for Carlos Alcaraz by winning a set, showing that he is not just a hard court specialist. Therefore, he will need to be taken into serious consideration for the ATP Rome and the major in Paris, where he could surprise.

"I have great ambitions on clay courts. It is slowly becoming one of my favorite surfaces to play on. In Munich, I think I had great ball control. I hit the ball very well from both sides, especially with my backhand. It was probably my best shot from the baseline. In addition to that, I served well and returned well. Those are the two most important parts of the game. I feel good about my game on clay," he acknowledged in an interview with the ATP.

Shelton, in search of success to honor his grandmother

Furthermore, Ben spoke about his early defeat against Dino Prizmic in Madrid with total naturalness, also highlighting that it allowed him to see his family in a difficult time. "I had an early elimination in Madrid, but I didn't even play a bad match. So, for me, it is something to continue improving on. Also, on a personal level, it was very important to be able to return to the United States and be with my family in these moments, attend my grandmother's funeral, and accompany my father. From now on, I hope to honor her memory with everything I do here."

In fact, the American tennis player posted on Instagram honoring the memory of his grandmother, so now he will have an extra incentive to achieve good results in the upcoming tournaments and dedicate them to his loved ones. If he manages to serve well, control his forehand, and implement that sliced backhand that has brought him so much success on other occasions, undoubtedly Ben Shelton can be one of the top contenders to reach the final rounds at Roland Garros.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La inesperada confesión de Ben Shelton antes del ATP Roma