US Open, father, The Mountain, phone celebration: Everything you always wanted to know about Ben Shelton (but never had time to ask) – updated after 2024 Basel Open final
Ben Shelton has reached the semi-finals of the 2023 US Open. Find out more about the rising young American, who has won two ATP titles in his career
Chryslene Caillaud/Panoramic
Who is Ben Shelton?
Ben Shelton is a professional tennis player from the US.
Has Ben Shelton played UTS?
Ben Shelton made his UTS debut in 2023 at Los Angeles, and is nicknamed “The Mountain”.
In 2024, Shelton was victorious at UTS Frankfurt, overcoming Jan-Lennard Struff, Gael Monfils, Lorenzo Musetti, and Thanasi Kokkinakis enroute to the final, before edging out Ugo Humbert three quarters to one to claim the title. The victory meant that the American had qualified for the UTS London Grand Final, which takes place in early December.
what did ben shelton do at the 2024 basel open?
Shelton reached his third ATP final at the 2024 Basel Open, defeating Etcheverry, Wawrinka, Rublev and Fils en route to the showpiece match.
Having won his previous two finals, Shelton lost his first in Basel, going down 6-4, 7-6 (4) to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the final.
What did Ben Shelton do at the 2024 US Open?
Shelton entered the 2024 US Open men’s singles draw as the 13th seed. He started his campaign against Austria’s Dominic Thiem, who announced retirement before coming into the tournament, and registered a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win. In the second round, he overcame Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to set up a meeting with fellow American and No 20 seed Frances Tiafoe in the third.
Shelton’s match-up with Tiafoe extended to five sets as the former claimed the first set before the latter took the second. He managed to win the third set in a tiebreaker but Tiafoe rose to the occasion and walked away with the fourth and fifth sets to complete a 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3 win.
Ben Shelton’s first atp singles title
Shelton won his first ATP singles title at the Japan Open in October 2023. The 21-year-old came from a set and 5-2 (double break) down to beat American qualifier Marcos Giron 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 in the semis and then defeated Russia’s Aslan Karatsev in the final in straight sets. The win guaranteed his debut in the top 15 of the world rankings.
Ben Shelton’s second atp singles title
Ben Shelton won his second ATP title on April 7, 2024, defeating fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the final of the Houston Open, an ATP 250 tournament.
In what was the first-ever ATP final contested between two African American men, Shelton outplayed Tiafoe by gaining two crucial breaks in the first and third sets to win 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. It is the 21-year-old’s first title on clay, and saw him rise to a new career-high ranking of No 14 in the world.
What is Shelton’s signature celebration move?
Shelon has a signature ‘dialed-in celebration’ move that he first debuted after his quarter-final win against Frances Tiafoe at the 2023 US Open. The move sees Shelton pick up an imaginary telephone and then hang it up.
Since then, Shelton repeated the move at the black carpet event of the 2023 Laver Cup in Vancouver, Canada and after beating Jannik Sinner in Shanghai. The move has also been imitated by several players, including 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
Did Novak Djokovic Taunt Shelton by mimicing his phone celebration move?
Following his 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory over Shelton in the 2023 US Open semi-finals, Novak Djokovic mimicked Shelton’s trademark “dialed in” telephone celebration.
It’s a celebration that Shelton en route to his first Grand Slam semi-final appearance — not directed at any opponent. Many speculated that the Serb meant it as taunting gesture toward his younger opponent and resulted in an icy handshake between the two at the net.
The Serb notably pulled out the celebration again after beating Italian Lorenzo Musetti at the Davis Cup Finals in 2023.
What did Ben Shelton do at the US Open in 2023?
Ben Shelton reached his first-ever Grand Slam semi-final, beating compatriot Frances Tiafoe in four sets to set up a meeting with Novak Djokovic. The American lost that match 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(4) to end the country’s hopes of producing a first home-grown winner of the US Open men’s singles title since Andy Roddick’s exploits in 2003.
Throughout the tournament, Shelton gained attention for being boisterous on court, and for celebrating his victories by miming hanging up a cellphone, intended to indicate that he was “dialled in”. The gesture, as well as Shelton’s behaviour on court, drew mixed responses, with some praising the energy Shelton brought, while others criticised then 20-year-old for being brash.
After Djokovic defeated Shelton in the semi-finals, the Serb mimicked Shelton’s cellphone celebration before the pair had a cold handshake at the net.
Shelton had previously reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open earlier that year, losing to Tommy Paul. He could not back up his run the following year, however, falling in five sets to Adrian Mannarino in the third round at the 2024 Australian Open.
What did Ben Shelton do at the 2023 Laver Cup?
The 21-year-old made his Laver Cup debut in Vancouver, helping Team World win a second consecutive title against Team Europe, 13-2.
Shelton played three matches, winning all of them. On day one, he opened play with a singles match against Arthur Fils, which the American won 7-6 (4), 6-1. The next day, he combined with Felix Auger-Aliassime to take on Hubert Hurkacz and Gael Monfils in doubles, with the pair winning 7-5, 6-4.
In the final match of the Laver Cup 2023, Shelton teamed up with Frances Tiafoe to deliver a killer blow to Team Europe, with the two defeating Hubert Hurkacz and Andrey Rublev in doubles.
Who are Ben Shelton’s parents?
Ben Shelton’s dad is former tennis pro Bryan Shelton, and his mother is Lisa.
What are Ben Shelton’s ambitions?
Ben Shelton believes that he can be world No 1 and a Grand Slam champion. In the podcast ‘All on the Table’, he told friends Frances Tiafoe and Christopher Eubanks: “I have full belief in myself that I can win Grand Slams, that I can be number one in the world.”
Did Ben Shelton play college tennis?
Ben Shelton played college tennis for the University of Florida, where his dad was also his coach.
What is Ben Shelton’s career-high ranking?
Ben Shelton’s career-high ranking is world No 13, achieved first on August 19, 2024.
How old is Ben Shelton?
Ben Shelton was born on October 9, 2002, making him 22 years of age at the time of writing.
How much prize money has Ben Shelton won?
As of October 27, 2024, Ben Shelton has won more than $4.8 million in career prize money, according to the ATP website.
How many titles has Ben Shelton won?
Ben Shelton has won two ATP Tour singles titles. He defeated Aslan Karatsev in straight sets to win the Japan Open title in October 2023, before prevailing over Frances Tiafoe in three sets to claim the Houston Open title in April 2024.
