Ben Shelton acknowledged that he and other American male tennis players cannot respond to Coco Gauff’s grand slam boasting as the men’s side continues to endure a long title drought. Shelton, who won his first ATP 1000 title at the 2025 Canadian Open, spoke about this dynamic just before the US Open.
American Men Still Chasing Major Titles Despite Recent Successes
Although American men like Shelton, Taylor Fritz, and Frances Tiafoe have shown promise over the years, a major championship has remained elusive. Fritz came closest at the 2024 US Open but was defeated by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. That tournament was also notable for featuring the first all-American semifinal since 2005, with Fritz and Tiafoe following in the footsteps of Andre Agassi and Robby Ginepri.
Beginning in 2025, Shelton delivered strong performances by reaching the Australian Open semifinals, advancing to the fourth round at Roland Garros, and reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Despite falling short of a major title in these tournaments, he marked an important milestone by claiming his first ATP 1000 championship in Canada. Shelton aims to leverage this momentum heading into the US Open.
Ben Shelton on the Ongoing Comparison with American Women’s Success
In a recent interview with Prakash Amritraj, Shelton reflected on how Coco Gauff, the reigning French Open champion, often boasts about her Grand Slam victories, which the male players find difficult to counter. Shelton pointed out how American men have been waiting for a Grand Slam champion since Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open victory.
“I think that there’s always big eyeballs on all of us Americans. That’s always the headline and the story. And, I think that it’s inevitable that we’re going to get some of those Grand Slam titles. I don’t know who it’s going to be or when it’s going to be. That’s up for you guys to debate. But, the state that we’re in right now, the number of young guys that we have coming through, the number of guys that we have at the top, it’s overwhelming.” —Ben Shelton
He added with a laugh:
“And, we’re just trying to catch up to the girls. Coco likes talking smack. And you know, I can’t say anything back because they’ve had us for forever. I don’t know, you know, if there was ever a time when the American men were doing better than the women. So we got something to chase.” —Ben Shelton
Alongside his singles efforts, Shelton will team up with doubles No. 1 Taylor Townsend for the US Open mixed doubles competition.
How Competing Against Top Players Helps Shelton Improve His Game
Since his breakthrough in 2023, Shelton has rapidly climbed the rankings to reach World No. 6 in just his second professional year. During a press conference in Toronto, he discussed how facing elite opponents in the final rounds of tournaments sharpens his tennis mindset by revealing areas for growth.
“I think that the more opportunities that you have, the more times you put yourself in the position to be playing against the best players in the world, you’re only going to get better.” —Ben Shelton
“So, for me it’s being in the later stages of the tournament and playing against guys who are playing their best tennis to see where I match up, and see where my weaknesses are and where I can get better.” —Ben Shelton
Ben Shelton’s development has been guided closely by his father, Bryan Shelton, who is a former Florida Gators coach. The 22-year-old has frequently expressed gratitude for his father’s influence in shaping his career so far.
The Significance of Shelton’s Progress for American Men’s Tennis
Shelton’s rise and recent ATP 1000 title demonstrate increasing depth among young American men’s players, intensifying hopes for ending the country’s Grand Slam title drought. With rising talents like Fritz and Tiafoe also pushing forward, there is growing anticipation that an American man will soon reclaim a major championship.
At the same time, Shelton’s acknowledgment of Coco Gauff’s success highlights the contrasting fortunes of American men’s and women’s tennis in recent years, adding a compelling narrative to the upcoming US Open. His collaboration with Townsend in mixed doubles further showcases the interconnected efforts within American tennis to reclaim prominence on the global stage.