Ben Shelton, the 22-year-old American tennis sensation, is carving his own path at Wimbledon 2025, and he’s relishing the chance to follow in the footsteps of a fellow American powerhouse, Andy Roddick, whom he admiringly calls a “physical beast.” After a hard-fought 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(1), 7-5 victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in the fourth round on July 7, Shelton became the youngest American man to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals since Roddick in 2004. The milestone, a testament to his meteoric rise, left Shelton beaming with pride. “It’s pretty cool to be mentioned in the same sentence as Andy,” he said, reflecting on the parallels drawn between his aggressive, big-serving game and that of the former world No. 1 and 2003 US Open champion.
Shelton’s journey to the quarterfinals has been a showcase of his explosive athleticism and unrelenting spirit. Facing Sonego, a seasoned grass-court player, Shelton dropped the first set but roared back with a commanding display of power, blasting aces and dictating rallies with his rocket forehand. The third-set tiebreak, where he conceded just one point, highlighted his ability to thrive under pressure, a trait he shares with Roddick, who reached three Wimbledon finals between 2003 and 2009, falling each time to Roger Federer. “He’s played three guys who are all very dangerous on grass,” his father and coach, Bryan Shelton, noted, praising Ben’s resilience against formidable opponents like Marton Fucsovics and Rinky Hijikata earlier in the tournament. “He’s come through that and is saying his body feels better and better.”
The comparisons to Roddick, a player renowned for his thunderous serve and relentless baseline aggression, are no coincidence. Shelton, standing at 6 feet 4 inches, has clocked serves as fast as 149 miles per hour, a record-breaking feat at the 2023 US Open that echoes Roddick’s own serving prowess. “Serving speed has a lot to do with technique rather than just strength,” Shelton explained, crediting his background in American football and baseball for his fluid, powerful motion. His father, Bryan, a former ATP pro who reached the Wimbledon fourth round in 1994, has been instrumental in honing this weapon, drawing on his own experience of beating Michael Stich on grass. “His dad knows what it takes to beat a really good player,” a commentator remarked, underscoring the value of Bryan’s coaching as Ben navigates the sport’s grandest stage.
Shelton’s path to the quarterfinals marks a significant milestone in his young career. At 22, he’s already a two-time ATP titleholder, with victories at the 2023 Japan Open and the 2024 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston, where he followed in Bryan’s footsteps by winning the same event his father claimed in 1992. “You’ve been such an inspiration to kids, people of colour in our sport,” Shelton said of Frances Tiafoe, whom he defeated in Houston, showcasing his respect for peers while cementing his own legacy. His 2025 season has been stellar, with a semifinal run at the Australian Open—where he fell to Jannik Sinner—and a career-high ranking of world No. 10 achieved in June. Now, facing Sinner again in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, Shelton sees it as a golden opportunity. “The guy’s a machine,” he said of the world No. 1, adding, “I think it’s a great opportunity for me to go for it and be aggressive and try to get to the semi-finals at Wimbledon for the first time.”
Beyond his on-court exploits, Shelton’s vibrant personality has endeared him to fans and drawn attention off the court. His “dialed in” phone-hanging celebration, first unveiled at the 2023 US Open, sparked both admiration and controversy, with Novak Djokovic mimicking it after their semifinal clash. “I’m saying I’m dialed in,” Shelton explained, describing it as a nod to his college tennis days at the University of Florida, where he won the 2022 NCAA singles title. His social media presence, with over 853,000 Instagram followers, has fueled viral TikTok edits, which he finds “outrageous” but amusing. “Some of the people, the comments and the captions, they got issues,” he laughed, embracing the attention while staying focused on his craft.
As Shelton prepares to face Sinner, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A win would make him the first American man in a Wimbledon semifinal since Roddick in 2009, a feat that would further cement his status as the heir to American tennis’s storied legacy. “I want to play my best tennis late in these tournaments,” he said, exuding confidence. With his father’s guidance, a serve that echoes Roddick’s “physical beast” dominance, and a fearless approach, Shelton is poised to make history. As he steps onto Court 1, the tennis world watches eagerly, wondering if this young star can take another step toward greatness, carrying the hopes of a nation eager for a new Grand Slam champion.
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