'It is getting there': Fit again Ben Shelton shares his big objective for the rest of the season

America’s Ben Shelton has provided an encouraging fitness update ahead of his first match at the ongoing Shanghai Masters. The 22-year-old is set to return to the court after spending more than a month on the sidelines in order to recover from a fitness concern.

Shelton suffered an injury during the third-round match of the US Open in August against France’s Adrian Mannarino, where he was forced to retire. The final score of that match was 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. AT that time, Shelton announced that he could not continue playing because of the kind of pain he had never felt before.

"Usually I'll play through anything and just find a way," said Shelton back then. "And whether it's sickness or injury, if I can stay out there, I can stay out there. I’ve never felt anything like this before, so that was kind of tough, I guess the uncertainty."

Since suffering that injury, Shelton skipped two events. He first missed the Laver Cup, where in his absence, Team World managed to defeat Team Europe and reclaim the title. Shelton then missed the Japan Open, where world number one Carlos Alcaraz went on to lift the title after beating America’s Taylor Fritz in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-4.

Shelton’s first match on his return to the court will be against Belgium’s David Goffin. The 34-year-old secured his spot in the round of 64 after beating Alexandre Muller in the final with a score of 6-7, 6-1, 6-1. It will be the second meeting between the two players in professional tennis. In the only previous meeting, which was earlier this year in Acapulco, it was Goffin who came out on top in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-3.

Eyes on ATP Finals spot

Shelton spoke to the media ahead of the match and provided a positive update about his fitness concerns. Shelton stated that he is slowly but surely getting there when it comes to his fitness. Shelton also said that he was ‘very excited to take part in the Shanghai Masters.

“It is getting there,” said Shelton. “As any injury, it takes time to recover. I wouldn’t show up to a tournament unless I thought I was ready and that is why I skipped a few, but I should be ready to go now. I’m very excited. It’s the first time that I’ve put myself in a good position at this point of the year to make Turin and hopefully get a couple more good results and get over the line.”

Shelton is having an impressive season overall, having won 37 out of the 55 matches. Those victories include a title as well, which was the Canadian Open, where he defeated Karen Khachanov in the final with a score of 6-7, 6-4, 7-6. Those performances have put Shelton in a good position as far as the race to cement a spot in the ATP Finals is concerned. Shelton spoke about it during the same media interaction and stated that he is keen to finally play in the competition where only the top eight players are allowed to play.

“So for me, I’m happy with the way that I’ve played this year, what I’ve been able to do,” said Shelton. “I’m not done, I have more things I want to accomplish this year, and let’s see where we are in a month’s time. I am very excited. It is the first time I have put myself in a good position at this point in the year to make Turin. Hopefully, I get a couple more good results and get over the line. I am happy with the way I have played this year and with what I have been able to do. I am not done, I have more things I want to accomplish this year and let’s see where we are in a month's time."