Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz represent the highest-ranked American players currently competing on the ATP Tour. Both athletes are positioned within the top 10 and are eager to build on their recent achievements throughout the ongoing tennis season. Taylor Fritz holds the world number four spot and reached his inaugural Grand Slam final at the 2024 US Open, where he was defeated by Jannik Sinner. Meanwhile, Ben Shelton has achieved career-best performances at all three major tournaments this year and is targeting similar success in the upcoming Flushing Meadows event.
Sam Querrey Predicts Fritz Will End the Year Ahead of Shelton
Taylor Fritz continues to serve as the United States’ leading ATP player, notably reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon for the first time in July. His steady performance has secured him a position among the ATP’s top four players. Shelton, however, is steadily closing the gap after capturing his biggest title yet at the Canadian Open and starting his campaign at the currently ongoing Cincinnati Open. Both competitors thrive during this part of the season and motivate each other to deliver peak performances, not only for titles but also to claim the top American ranking. Observing their progress, fellow American Sam Querrey expressed confidence that Fritz will maintain a higher year-end ranking.
That is going to be close but I am still taking Taylor. Ben has gone from 10 to nine to eight to seven,
Querrey told the Nothing Major podcast.
I think it’s going to be Sinner, Alcaraz, Zverev, Fritz, someone else and then Shelton.
—Sam Querrey, Former American Tennis Player
Steve Johnson Sees Both American Players Breaking Into the Top Five
Ben Shelton has made significant strides in 2025, proving he can deliver his best tennis in both Grand Slams and Masters 1000 tournaments. He has been improving his overall game, adding important skills needed to consistently challenge top-ranked opponents. After a strong summer, Shelton sits just over 300 points behind world number five Jack Draper, who is absent from this year’s Cincinnati Open. This gives Shelton an opportunity to surpass Draper with a solid performance in Cincinnati. Steve Johnson, co-host of the Nothing Major podcast, believes both Fritz and Shelton will eventually rank among the ATP’s top five players this season.
I think he’s going to catch Draper and we are going to have two in the top five.
—Steve Johnson, Podcast Co-host
Implications for the Future of American Men’s Tennis
The ongoing rivalry between Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton highlights a promising phase for American men’s tennis, as both players are pushing each other to reach higher ranks on the ATP Tour. With Fritz’s consistent results and Shelton’s rapid improvement, the likelihood of having two Americans inside the ATP’s top five appears strong. This competition not only advances their individual careers but could also elevate the United States’ presence on the global tennis stage in 2025 and beyond. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely as both players continue toward the season‘s final tournaments, where rankings and titles will begin to crystallize.