Shelton warns his rivals: "I'm going full throttle at this US Open"
The American shows great determination to aspire to the title at the 2026 US Open and considers it a disrespect to believe that there are no strong candidates due to Sinner's absence.
Ben Shelton will be the leading figure of American tennis in his quest to have a local champion again. At 23 years old, the current world number 9 is aware that his game improves at Flushing Meadows and does not shy away from the responsibility at the US Open 2026.
It has been too long since an American tennis player lifted a Grand Slam title, and Ben Shelton seems to be the one with the best chances to break that streak that has now lasted 23 years. Aware of his candidacy for glory in this US Open 2026, amplified by Sinner's absence, Alcaraz and Djokovic's doubts, and his title in Montreal, the American faced the press to explain how he approaches the New York tournament.
This is how Ben Shelton spoke in the Media Day press conference at the US Open 2026
The confidence gained in Montreal
“I felt great. What I liked the most was the consistency I showed throughout the week, how focused I was mentally, and going through the tournament without losing a set. What I am most proud of is the level of tennis I was playing, being able to look back, see some of the things I was doing, and implement so many areas I had been working on during my previous training block. Being able to execute at such a high level for ten straight days felt really good.”
Shelton's preference for the US Open
Shelton spoke about the opportunity ahead after the injury that affected his end of 2025 and his early exit at last year's US Open.
“There is a lot of opportunity after being injured last year, having fallen in the third round here, and not being able to do much during the rest of the year after. I think this last quarter of the 2026 season, I'm going to go full steam ahead and we'll see what we can do.”
“This is a tournament that generates a lot of emotions for me; I love playing here, it's my favorite tournament of the year. Sometimes you have to downplay it, and at the same time, you have to be able to enjoy the moment and appreciate how important the moment or the venue you are playing in is. It's the part of tennis that I enjoy the most.”
Ben Shelton names Jódar among the favorites
“As I always say, I’m focused on my first round, on my first match. I don’t think too far beyond that. I don’t look at the draw except to see who I’m playing in the first round. I think that’s the only way I compartmentalize things and stay in the moment when I’m playing. I’m not someone who likes to get ahead of myself.”
“I think it would be disrespectful to think: ‘Sinner isn’t here, it’s a huge opportunity’, when you have players who have won Grand Slams this year like Zverev and Sinner, and obviously Novak is in the draw, players who have won big titles and have been in great form. Jodar, Arthur Fils, all the Americans are quite dangerous on this surface.”
“I think underestimating the group that is playing at a high level right now would not be smart. When you face a tournament like this, I think I always have respect for whoever is playing. I try not to respect my opponents too much, obviously, but I think it’s a very important part of who I am as a person and how I view my game and the tournaments I’m playing.”
The key to Shelton's improvement
“It’s knowing what you have and what you don’t have that day, working with yourself in that way, and not trying to force or be something you’re not at that moment. At the same time, it’s about mental concentration to stay in that moment.”
“If I'm playing well, I don't try to seek more and more, but rather to maintain that 80% level or be able to solve problems on the fly. I think keeping my mind in the match for its entirety is really, really important.”
“I was able to do that for two sets in each match I played there. Here it's a bigger challenge, doing it in the best of five sets and playing more matches if you want to come out of here with the title. But it's a challenge that I am always looking forward to facing.”
It's evident that Ben Shelton has a good chance of doing very well in this US Open 2026; due to the confidence gained from his title in Montreal, how well his tennis adapts to these courts, the absence of a superior player who is in great form, and the rising maturity he shows in every match. Will he meet the expectations?
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shelton avisa a sus rivales: "Voy a toda máquina en este US Open"