Ben Shelton: So Close to Elite

If Shelton can discover that consistency while maintaining his elite serve, he becomes an exceptionally difficult opponent for anyone. More difficult than he is today, because right now he tends to beat himself against top players. Sinner simply needed to apply the right amount of pressure at the right moments, and Shelton would crumble without offering much resistance.

The most glaring weakness in his game is the return. It’s genuinely poor for a player of his standing, and it creates cascading problems throughout matches. He couldn’t generate any real pressure on Sinner’s service games, which meant he was constantly playing from behind or defending slim margins. The elite players he’ll need to beat to win Grand Slams generally possess serves that range from very good to exceptional. Against that level of serving, his current return will always leave him at a severe disadvantage.

If he can elevate his return to at least serviceable, he would dramatically increase his margin for error. Right now that margin is razor thin, even against players outside the elite tier. One bad service game and the set is gone. Against the best players in the world, those margins become impossible to navigate.

What Comes Next

Despite these obvious limitations, the future remains genuinely bright. Shelton proved throughout this tournament that he belongs firmly in the second tier of players globally. To break into that top tier, he won’t need a complete overhaul. Just targeted improvements to an already strong foundation.

The serve alone makes him dangerous in any match. Add consistency in rallies and a functional return, and suddenly he’s a legitimate Grand Slam contender. The match against Sinner demonstrated that he’s tantalizingly close. Even without his best tennis on display, he kept it competitive against a player who, to be fair, wasn’t at his absolute peak either.

That’s the encouraging part. Shelton competed with the world’s best player while operating below his own ceiling. Imagine what becomes possible when he tightens up the loose ends, when the overhit forehands become consistent groundstrokes, and the weak returns become neutral or even aggressive shots that put opponents on their heels.

The blueprint exists. Sinner showed it’s possible to transform from an aggressive but inconsistent talent into a complete, dominant champion. Shelton possesses the raw materials. The serve is there. The athleticism is there. The competitive fire burns bright. What remains is refinement, patient work of smoothing rough edges and eliminating the self-inflicted wounds that currently prevent him from challenging for the biggest titles.

Australia has been good to Ben Shelton. It launched his career three years ago, and it has now shown him exactly how close he is to the summit. The gap isn’t vast. It’s bridgeable. And for a player this talented, this young, and this determined, bridging that gap feels like an inevitable progression. The question isn’t whether Shelton can reach elite status. It’s simply a matter of when.