Ben Shelton has experienced a breakthrough season, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 6 and winning his first Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open. Despite these accomplishments, former doubles World No. 1 Rennae Stubbs expressed doubts about Shelton’s ability to win a Grand Slam in the near future, citing challenges unique to major tournaments that he has yet to overcome.

Stubbs has followed Shelton’s progress closely, acknowledging his improved fitness level and stronger backhand. However, she emphasized that these factors alone are insufficient to contend with tennis’s top players at the four Grand Slam events.

Somebody said, ‘Do you think he can win a slam?’ I don’t think so,

Stubbs said, highlighting the dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz as major obstacles for Shelton.

One key difference Stubbs pointed out is the match format in Grand Slam tournaments, which are played over best-of-five sets, unlike regular ATP events that use best-of-three. This distinction heavily impacts players like Shelton, who have demonstrated strong performances in shorter matches but may struggle in longer contests.

Not over five sets over the likes of Alcaraz and Sinner because they just could figure out a way to take advantage of certain things,

Stubbs explained.

Best of five is a very different story than best of three.

According to Stubbs, the extended format exposes vulnerabilities that elite competitors can exploit, making it more difficult for emerging players to prevail at Grand Slams. She further noted that men’s tennis tends to see fewer upsets in these events because the best player usually wins when matches are longer.

You have a lot more upsets in the women’s,

Stubbs said.

Everyone’s like ‘It’s so hard to win best of five.’ The best player, most of the time, will win the best of five.

By contrast, best-of-three matches can produce unexpected results due to players having a single hot day or momentary lapses by favorites like Aryna Sabalenka or Iga Świątek.

Best of three, you can have a hot day, and you can lose even if you are a great player, like a Sabalenka, or you know, Iga Świątek,

Stubbs said.

She used an interesting analogy to illustrate the physical and mental demands of best-of-five sets, comparing it to a combination of sprinters and marathon runners excelling in endurance challenges. This blend helps explain why random or less expected winners sometimes emerge in unique tennis events like the Olympics.

I am not saying it’s not harder to win a best of five physically and mentally. Which is why we have had some random people win the Gold Medal at the Olympics. Sprinters combined with marathon runners are always going to win best of five.

Stubbs pointed to the dominance of Sinner and Alcaraz, who have shared the last seven Grand Slam titles, to show how the best-of-five format favors well-rounded, consistent performers.

That’s why Sinner and Alcaraz have won the last seven Grand Slams,

she remarked.

Looking ahead to the upcoming US Open, Stubbs expressed skepticism about Shelton’s chances of winning a major under the best-of-five format, while acknowledging progress in the American’s game.

Do I think Ben (Shelton) is going to win the US Open? Probably not, because of the best-of-five situations,

Stubbs said.

But I tell you what, he is getting himself to a point where his weakness is not as glaring.

Ben Shelton Sets Grand Slam Titles as His Ultimate Ambition After Toronto Triumph

Despite the doubts voiced by experts, Ben Shelton remains committed to competing for Grand Slam championships as his long-term objective. After his success at the Canadian Open in Toronto, Shelton openly shared that major titles continue to motivate his development.

To be where I want to be in the game, which is competing for Grand Slam titles, along with these type of titles, there are a lot of things that I still need to get better at,

Shelton acknowledged, underlining his awareness of the ongoing work required.

Shelton’s 2024 season illustrates both his promise and the hurdles he faces. He has consistently reached at least the Round of 16 at every Grand Slam this year, underscoring his ability to advance deep into tournaments. However, in each case, his exit came against players who ultimately captured the title, suggesting he has yet to bridge the gap to elite status.

His standout performance occurred at the Australian Open, where he reached the semifinals before losing in three sets to Jannik Sinner. This result showcased his capacity to challenge top talent while also matching the concerns raised by Stubbs about the margin separating him from the very best.

Currently, Shelton is competing in the Cincinnati Masters 1000 tournament, having progressed to the third round. He is set to face seasoned Spanish player Roberto Bautista Agut, aiming to maintain momentum and refine his game further in high-level competition.