Former world No. 1 Boris Becker has weighed in on the current crop of young ATP players, singling out one who he believes is poised to join Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in what he predicts could be the “new Big Three” of tennis. According to the German tennis legend, American rising star Ben Shelton stands out as the player who is “closest to reaching the top,” while he expressed disappointment in the progress of his former protégé, Holger Rune.
Shelton, currently ranked No. 17 in the ATP rankings, is having an impressive 2024 season, having climbed to a career-high ranking of No. 13 in August. The 22-year-old American has compiled a solid 37-23 win-loss record this year, showing his consistency across various tournaments. While his best performance in a major event this season was a quarter-final run at the Cincinnati Masters, he also won his second career ATP title at the ATP 250 tournament in Houston in April. This victory adds to his growing resume and establishes him as one of the most exciting prospects on the tour.
Shelton’s breakout came in 2023, when he reached the semi-finals of the US Open and the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, marking him as one of the players to watch on the ATP tour. Later that year, he claimed his first ATP 500 title at the Japan Open, further solidifying his status as a rising force in the men’s game. With his powerful serve and aggressive baseline game, Shelton has shown the potential to go toe-to-toe with the game’s elite.
Becker, a six-time Grand Slam champion and one of the sport’s all-time greats, has been observing the evolution of men’s tennis closely, especially in this transitional period as legends like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal near the twilight of their careers. In an interview with *Gazzetta dello Sport*, Becker expressed his belief that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are destined to become the new Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer of the future, and he’s now looking for the third player to complete this emerging “Big Three.”
“Now on the circuit, we have another dilemma… we need a [Rafael] Nadal to complete the new Big Three. And another player to follow the Fab Four,” Becker remarked, alluding to the legendary quartet of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Andy Murray, who dominated men’s tennis for more than a decade. “The one closest to reaching the top for me is Ben Shelton. The most ready, at first, seemed to be Holger Rune, but this year he hasn’t made much progress.”
Holger Rune, the 20-year-old Danish star who was once tipped as one of the next big talents in the sport, has struggled to maintain the momentum that saw him break into the top 10. Becker worked with Rune briefly and has been keeping a close eye on his development, but he lamented that the young Dane has failed to take the next step in his career. Rune’s 2024 season has been marred by inconsistency, and he has been unable to replicate his success from the previous year when he was touted as a future world No. 1 contender.
In contrast, Becker has been impressed by Shelton’s demeanor and performance, particularly during the Laver Cup, where he showcased his skills in both singles and doubles. “I watched the American [Shelton] for a long time in the Laver Cup, in singles and doubles, and I liked his attitude. He smiles, he puts on a show, he entertains, and he has fun,” Becker noted. Shelton’s engaging personality and flair on the court have not only won him fans but also mark him as a player with the charisma to be a global ambassador for tennis, similar to how Federer and Nadal charmed the world.
Becker’s comments are significant given his expertise and experience in the sport. As a former coach of Novak Djokovic, Becker understands the mental and physical attributes required to reach the pinnacle of tennis. His belief that Shelton could complete the trio alongside Sinner and Alcaraz suggests that the American has what it takes to compete at the highest level and potentially challenge for Grand Slam titles in the near future.
Turning his attention to the potential dominance of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Becker expressed caution, advising against placing undue pressure on the young Italian star to replicate the achievements of Djokovic. “Who can say if one day Sinner will be as dominant as ‘Nole’?” Becker mused, referring to Djokovic by his popular nickname. “But we shouldn’t put too much pressure on these players’ shoulders: winning 24 Slam titles is something superhuman, as are 428 weeks as world No. 1.”
The German icon emphasized that the accomplishments of Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal are unique and unlikely to be matched, at least in the near future. “There is only one ‘Nole’, one [Roger] Federer, and one Nadal,” Becker said. “But I think that with these guys [Sinner, Alcaraz, and Shelton], tennis is really in good hands.”
As the era of the Big Three slowly draws to a close, the emergence of new stars like Sinner, Alcaraz, and Shelton provides hope for tennis fans that the sport will continue to thrive with captivating rivalries and high-level competition. Whether Shelton can join Sinner and Alcaraz at the top remains to be seen, but with Becker’s endorsement, the young American’s future certainly looks promising.