Shelton, Wimbledon is calling you
After conquering his first title on grass this Sunday in Stuttgart, the American advanced today to the quarterfinals in Halle. Six consecutive victories... and dreaming.
We are a week and a half into this 2026 grass court tour, and we already have the first big protagonist: Ben Shelton. Undefeated so far on grass, the American made a grand exit in Stuttgart and threatens to do the same this Sunday in Halle.
It's worth noting that we often repeat how difficult it is to play on a surface that gives you practically no room to adjust, as well as how much the new generations struggle to get a grip on grass. Well, here is Ben Shelton trying to dispel that feeling. Certainly, his tour start couldn't have been better: champion in Stuttgart and, so far, in the quarterfinals in Halle. Let his place in the top 5 world rankings be noticed, along with the confidence gained after already lifting three trophies this season.
"I think my game is transitioning well from one surface to another," said Shelton, who didn't quite excel on clay. "I don't always feel 100% comfortable on natural surfaces, whether it's grass or clay, but I am also aware that it's a process. Of course, I haven't played much on grass yet, but it really is a surface that complements my style of play. It makes the things I do more effective," summarized the man who defeated his compatriot Taylor Fritz in last Sunday's final in Stuttgart.
"This title means a lot, it boosts my confidence after overcoming opponents of high level and in very tough matches. Winning that final with a great victory against one of the best grass court players is not easy, I'm still savoring it. Showing tenacity and overcoming these tough matches, day after day, is the first step towards achieving my goals and finding the rhythm I want to have for this season on grass," assessed the 23-year-old with his sixth individual trophy in hand: three on hard courts, two on clay, and one on grass.
Ben Shelton, a future Wimbledon contender?
Sure, it's very easy now to get excited and jump on the Ben Shelton bandwagon for Wimbledon, but it's quite logical to trust a young man who has proven to have taken a significant step on a surface that usually raises doubts and fears in people his age. His father, Bryan, knows it well, reaching the round of 16 in 1994. A milestone his son surpassed a year ago, making it to the quarterfinals, although at the Shelton household, they know there is still a lot of work to be done.
"My father would like me to come to the net more, to rely more on my serve in that regard," Ben says when asked about the improvements needed to be even more dangerous on grass. "And I agree with him, but sometimes I hesitate to rush to the net because players currently return very well from the baseline. Coming to the net is often rewarded on grass, especially here in Germany, where the surfaces are quite fast," emphasized the Florida native, who will face Fritz again tomorrow for a spot in the Halle semifinals.
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