Boris Becker picks Ben Shelton to join Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in top three

Former German world number 1 Tennis player, Boris Becker reckons that the young ATP player, Ben Shelton is a likely candidate to join Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in a ‘new Big Three’. While underlying Holger Rune’s dismal performance this year, Becker thinks that Ben Shelton is on his way to reaching the top. As of now, Shelton is at the 17th spot in the ATP Rankings. He reached the career-high spot of 13th in August. In the year 2024, the young sensation boasts of a 37-23 win-loss record. 

His best performance came at the Cincinnati Masters as he made his way into the quarter-finals. In April, he bagged his second career ATP title at the ATP 250 event in Houston.

He had a phenomenal campaign last year. The American managed to reach the semi-finals of the US Open and the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. Ben Shelton turned heads in October, last year, as he clinched his maiden title at the Japan Open ATP 500. 

“The one closest to reaching the top for me is Ben Shelton”- Boris Becker

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are being labeled as the Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer of the future. Boris Becker reckons that Ben Shelton could be the “Rafael Nadal of Tennis” to make up the top three. 

“Now on the circuit, we have another dilemma… we need [Rafael] Nadal to complete the new Big Three. And another player to follow the Fab Four,” the German told Gazzetta dello Sport. 

“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. 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.” he added. 

Shelton was inclined more towards football as a child before he realized Tennis was his true calling. He was coached by his father at the University of Florida and went on to bag the 2022 NCAA singles title. Shelton turned pro late in 2022 and made headlines with two wins at the Cincinnati Masters that year.