Who is Ben Shelton? Meet the 20-year-old tennis sensation breaking out at 2023 US Open | Sporting News (2024)

Ben Shelton is quickly becoming a household name.

The American has earned his stripes at this year's US Open, showcasing a venomous serve and a forehand from hell en route to an appearance in the tournament semifinals. Not too shabby for a player who only recently earned top-50 distinction in the world rankings.

Shelton's sudden rise has captivated much of the tennis world. The fresh-faced youngster can't legally drink in his home country. He can, however, conjure noise out of the Arthur Ashe Stadium faithful like an orchestra. Couple that with an intoxicating celebration and plenty of bravado, and it's little surprise why some are convinced Shelton could join Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz on the mantle of elite American talents.

With a duel against 23-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic looming, Shelton faces the biggest test of his career. If his background is any indication, though, he'll be more than ready once that clock starts ticking.

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Here's what you need to know about Ben Shelton, one of the biggest surprises in this year's US Open.

Ben Shelton age

If you think Shelton is young, that's because he is. Born Oct. 9, 2002, the 20-year-old finds himself in the infancy of his professional career, only just turning pro last summer.

Shelton's youthful athleticism is of special use to him; it allows him to slide up and down the court with relative ease. And his serve is especially explosive, much of which he lends to adrenaline and a certain youthful burst.

Ben Shelton hometown

Shelton hails from Atlanta, a city that — with its sweltering heat — can provide the perfect habitat for year-round tennis. It seems Shelton took advantage of all the opportunities such temperatures provided.

Despite calling Atlanta home for the early years of his life, Shelton currently resides in Gainesville, Florida. More on that later...

Ben Shelton parents

Shelton has tennis swirling in his blood; his mother, Lisa, was a highly touted junior player, while his father, Bryan, is a former pro who enjoyed modest success on the ATP Tour.

The elder Shelton's influence has been especially prominent in his son's budding career. For Bryan wasn't just Ben's idol. He was also his coach, and remains in that role.

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Bryan Shelton enjoyed far more success in the coaching box rather than on the court, earning plaudits as Georgia Tech's women's tennis coach from 1999-2012. Under his tutelage, the Yellow Jackets captured the 2007 NCAA championship.

He then took his talents downstream, taking the reins of tennis superpower Florida's men's program. The Gators vanquished all opposition en route a national championship in 2021.

The Sheltons were a formidable duo with the Gators, both surging to the upper reaches of collegiate tennis. But once Ben decided to join the professional ranks, his father opted to make the leap as well; in June, he announced his intention to step away from the program. Shortly thereafter, he was named Ben's official playing coach.

Ben Shelton college career

Like any youngster, Shelton seemed to really find his form in college. Playing on his father's Gators team, Shelton had all the trappings of a prodigious prospect. The lefty waltzed around the floor like it was a ballroom, enraptured by the sweet rhythm that comes when seeing strike after strike ripple off a racket.

Shelton's collegiate resume is the stuff of legend: 2021 national champion, No. 1 singles player in the country as a sophom*ore, National Player of the Year. He even claimed the championship-clinching match for the Gators when they finally won the title.

But all good things must come to an end. And after a glittering display at the Cincinnati Masters last year, Shelton opted to focus full-time on professional tennis.

MORE:Who is the world No.1 in women's tennis?

Ben Shelton serve speed

Shelton has a serve filled with fire and ash. It's more blur than shot, a wicked bolt that tends to slip over the boundary more times than most.

Unsurprisingly, his serve speeds rank among the sport's elite. Shelton's fastest serve speed of this year's tournament is 149 mph. Not only is that the best serve of the tourney in terms of speed. It also stands as one of the fastest serves in US Open history; per theATP Tour, Andy Roddick's 152 mph serve is the fastest recorded serve in the competition's history.

“I think [it was] straight adrenaline. Any other atmosphere, I don’t think I could get it done. I think my arm might fall off,” Shelton said of his blazing strike. “But it’s feeling pretty good right now.”

Here's how Shelton's top speed compares to some other elite US players:

(all stats from TheResource Nexus)