Top New: From Becker to Roddick: My Quest to Break a 21-Year Grand Slam Record
Andy Roddick is the last US men’s star to claim victory at one of tennis’ four major tournaments, winning on home soil at the US Open in 2003.
For a country that has produced some of the greatest players of all time — John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi — the last twenty years have been a desperately barren period for men’s tennis in the United States.
The powerhouse sporting nation has continually produced female champions in that time — Serena and Venus Williams, Coco Gauff, Sloane Stephens and Sofia Kenin — but as of now no man has yet emerged from the wilderness.
Shelton has a shot at being that guy. The American no. 1 and world no. 14 represents a new wave of top-ranked US stars including Tommy Paul, Taylor Fritz, Seb Korda, and Frances Tiafoe, who have all threatened at Grand Slams in recent times but are yet to get over the line.
The 21-year-old Shelton has tennis in his DNA after all, and has already surpassed the achievements of his father and former pro, Bryan Shelton.
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Bryan’s pro career spanned from 1989-97. He reached a career-high ranking of no. 55 in 1992 and twice took the singles title at Newport.
He also has a fascinating history at Wimbledon, having made his Grand Slam debut at SW19 against Boris Becker in his first year on tour.
The German tennis legend beat the elder Shelton 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 in the first round before winning his third and final title at The All England Club.
The pair met once more at the grasscourt major, this time in 1992 in the Round of 32.
Shelton Sr was able to take a set off Becker but still lost in four sets, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5).
Bryan’s career never hit the heights of his son but he did earn wins over Hall of Famers Agassi and Michael Stich.
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He stunned no. 2 seed Stich in round one at Wimbledon in 1994 before falling in the fourth round to Swede Christian Bergstrom – his best result at a major.
Shelton collected two doubles titles during his career, including one with Pat Rafter against Australian legends Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in Adelaide.
He also made the 1992 French Open mixed doubles final with Lori McNeil but lost to eventual champions Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Todd Woodbridge.
Shelton officially retired from the professional tour in 1997 and moved into coaching.
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He coached forgotten Wimbledon 1996 finalist MaliVai Washington before being named head coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets women’s tennis team in July 1999.
Shelton guided the Yellow Jackets to the 2007 women’s national title and in 2012 was hired as the head coach of the Florida Gators men’s tennis team.
He became the first coach in NCAA Division I history to guide both a woman’s and men’s tennis squad to team championships after leading the University of Florida to the NCAA Championship in 2021.
In June 2023, Bryan left his college job to travel full-time with Ben and focus on coaching him.
“The dream team is back together baby‼️” Ben wrote on Instagram at the time. “Can’t wait to have you out on tour with me, and see what we can accomplish together.”
Before Ben turned pro, he played tennis for the Florida Gators, coached by his dad.
The big serving lefty won the men’s singles title at the 2022 NCAA Division I Tennis Championships and was named the ITA National Player of the Year.
Since then, the 6ft 4in Shelton Jr has emerged as one of tennis’ rising stars.
His ranking has skyrocketed since reaching the fourth round of the 2023 Australian Open in what was only the second Grand Slam appearance of his young career.
The Florida resident has gone from the world no. 546 to no. 14, helped in part by his run to the semi-finals at the 2023 US Open – his best finish at a major to date.
He lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic but bounced back a month later to win his maiden title at the 2023 Japan Open Tennis Championships.
Shelton has gone from strength to strength in 2024, winning the 2024 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships for his second career title and first on clay.
He defeated third seed and compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the first African-American men’s singles tennis final in the Open Era.
Ben also reached a career-high no. 14 in the world and became the American no. 1 ahead of Taylor Fritz.
In doing so, Shelton became the youngest American no. 1 player since Roddick in March 2004.
Now, he’ll try to emulate the supersonic server’s Grand Slam achievement from 2003.
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