Ben Shelton arrives at Wimbledon 2026 with one of his greatest weapons ready: a serve that perfectly suits grass courts. The American is aware that in London, big servers have a special advantage, but he also knows that to progress in the tournament, he needs to continue making strides in a key aspect of his game: the return.
Shelton himself explained in his press conference that the return has been an absolute priority over the past seasons. “For the last two years, it has been a huge priority for me. I believe my return has improved greatly, it's not just about the return but also the two subsequent shots, which are crucial.” Grass poses an added challenge for returners, something the American is very aware of. “Grass is probably the toughest surface to return on. I have played against many big servers in recent weeks, so I feel prepared,” he added.
For Shelton, matches on grass often come down to small details. “If a player is serving really well on grass, they have a big serve, they are more likely to hold serve against almost anyone in the world. Faced with that reality, the goal is to seize the few opportunities that arise during a match. Being able to win a point here or there, to turn the situation around, take advantage of second serve returns, and be decisive in tiebreaks is the most important thing on grass,” he summarized.
Ben Shelton and the progression we've been waiting for
The American also highlighted the evolution he has undergone since joining the tour. “If you look at my return statistics, in terms of the percentage of points won, break opportunities, and the percentage of games I broke since joining the tour, the difference is huge. Before, I was well below the average of the top 100 players. Now I am around the top 50 average in many return statistics,” the American shared.
“I believe it's a huge improvement, especially being among the best servers on the tour. It's motivating to know that I still have a lot of room to grow, but I think I have taken significant steps,” he added. With an elite serve and an increasingly solid return, Shelton approaches Wimbledon with the intention of becoming a more complete and dangerous player on grass.
本新闻为自动翻译。您可以阅读原始新闻:Ben Shelton anuncia que ya cuenta con la última pieza para brillar en hierba

