Nick Kyrgios, known for expressing candid thoughts about fellow ATP Tour players, recently opened up about American player Ben Shelton during an Instagram live session. Despite being sidelined with ongoing physical issues since the Miami Open, Kyrgios offered his perspective on the rising star after watching him compete and having several discussions with him. Kyrgios admits that his opinion of Shelton has grown more favorable over time.

He highlighted Shelton’s powerful serve and suggested that if the courts were faster, particularly like they were decades ago, Shelton would have claimed multiple Wimbledon titles. Kyrgios said,

“I actually really like Ben. I don’t know how I felt earlier. Let’s be honest, he was always going to be a gun. But I did not know about the energy. But now I have spoken to him a couple of times and watched him play and I like Ben.”

—Nick Kyrgios

Kyrgios emphasized the difficulty players like Shelton face today due to slower court speeds, which demand more all-around skills. Still, Shelton’s serve remains a major weapon. Kyrgios noted,

“He has a huge serve. I’m not saying he is bad from the back. But if courts were fast, like 30 years ago, Shelton would barely lose an indoor match. He would barely lose at Wimbledon.”

—Nick Kyrgios

Referring specifically to Shelton’s serve speed and left-handed advantage, Kyrgios commented,

“This guy is serving 230 or 240 (km/h) with ease too. His left hand is monstrous. You get Shelton at Wimbledon serving 240, goodnight. Good luck returning that, he would have like 10 Wimbys.”

—Nick Kyrgios

Kyrgios himself is no stranger to using a strong serve on grass, reaching the Wimbledon final in 2022 before falling to Novak Djokovic.

Ben Shelton’s Grass Court Performance and Upcoming Schedule

Although Kyrgios believes Shelton’s style suits grass courts well, Shelton has yet to excel consistently on this surface. The American has shown flashes of brilliance in Grand Slam events, including Wimbledon, but his overall grass court record remains modest. Last year, Shelton reached the fourth round at Wimbledon but has only won two out of seven ATP Tour matches played on grass.

His grass season has been challenging, exemplified by a surprising first-round loss to British world number 289 Paul Jubb at the Mallorca Championships. Shelton is now preparing for an intense grass court campaign this year, starting at the Stuttgart Open scheduled for June 9. He is also entered to compete at Queen’s Club and the Mallorca Championships once again before Wimbledon begins.

Kyrgios’ Absence from the Tour and Outlook

Nick Kyrgios remains on the sidelines due to persistent physical problems that have forced him to withdraw from doubles at the French Open and now from Wimbledon. His absence leaves space for emerging players like Shelton to draw attention with their growing performances. Kyrgios has been particularly outspoken in the past regarding players such as Jannik Sinner and now provides a fresh viewpoint on Shelton’s potential impact.

Given the evolving dynamics of the ATP Tour and the challenges facing new talent, Kyrgios’ insights offer a glimpse of the shifting playing styles and conditions influencing the game, especially on grass courts. His appreciation of Shelton’s energy and serve power highlights a player capable of making significant strides if conditions align in his favor.