American, Phone Celebration, Father, The Mountain: Everything you always wanted to know about Ben Shelton (but never had time to ask) – updated after 2025 Australian Open
Ben Shelton has reached semi-finals of the 2023 US Open and 2025 Australian Open. Find out more about the young American, who has won two ATP titles in his career so far
Ben Shelton, Australian Open 2025
Who is Ben Shelton?
Ben Shelton is a professional tennis player from the United States.
what did ben shelton do at the 2025 australian open?
Ben Shelton reached the semi-finals at the 2025 Australian Open, defeating Lorenzo Sonego in the quarter-finals before falling in straight sets to defending champion Jannik Sinner. This was the second time that the American has reached the last four at a Major.
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 in December but had to pull out from the same.
Did Ben shelton play the davis cup finals in 2024?
Yes, Shelton played Thanasi Kokkinakis in the quarter-finals, and lost 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (14) in a nail-biting opening match. After Taylor Fritz leveled the tie against Australia, Shelton participated in the deciding doubles match alongside Tommy Paul, but ultimately lost out against the pairing of Matthew Ebden/Jordan Thompson.
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.
How many ATP singles titles had Ben Shelton won?
Shelton has won two ATP singles titles in his career so far. The American left-hander 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.
Shelton won his second ATP title on April 7, 2024, defeating 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 was 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 accomplish at the 2023 US Open?
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 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.
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, who peaked at No 55 in the world rankings and won two ATP singles titles, and his mother is Lisa.
Who is Ben Shelton’s girlfriend?
Shelton is not known to be publicly dating anyone at this moment. He was earlier dating Anna Hall, a professional heptathlete. The pair began dating in November 2021 but later Shelton confirmed that he was single.
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?
Yes. 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. You can find his current ranking and rankings history on his ATP Tour profile page.
How old is Ben Shelton?
What is Ben Shelton’s fastest serve?
Shelton’s fastest recorded serve was a 150 MPH serve he hit during the 2024 Indian Wells Masters.
Ben Shelton was born on October 9, 2002, making him 22 years of age as of February 2025.
How much prize money has Ben Shelton won?
As of February 2, 2025, Ben Shelton has won more than $6.1 million in career prize money. You can find his updated prize money stats on his profile page on the ATP website.
Which racquet does Ben Shelton play with?
Shelton is sponsored by Yonex for racquets and uses the Yonex EZONE 98 Aqua Night Black.
Is Ben Shelton on social media?
Yes. Shelton is most active on Instagram, where he has 850,000 followers as of February 2, 2025. he also has an account on X (formerly known as Twitter), where he has 36,400 followers and on Facebook, where he has more than 11,000 followers.
