The ATP Next Gen Finals is set to start after the end of the Nitto ATP Finals. The Next Gen Finals will feature the top eight players aged 21 and under in two groups. Eight players had qualified for the event, but the top four have withdrawn for multiple reasons. Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune, Lorenzo Musetti, and Ben Shelton are the ones who chose not to play in the event.
Alcaraz and Rune have qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals starting next week. Alcaraz won the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2021 in Milan. Meanwhile, Rune played in the same edition but lost in the group stages. This time, the event is taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The season’s rising star, Ben Shelton, was expected to debut in the event.
ATP Next Gen Finals:
Arthur Fils, Luca Van Assche, Dominic Stricker and Flavio Cobolli qualified.
Abedallah Shelbayh receives a wild card
Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune, Lorenzo Musetti and Ben Shelton don’t want to play.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) November 8, 2023
While Shelton has stepped away due to medical reasons, Musetti had played in the 2021 edition but, this time chose not to due to personal reasons. The Italian had recently announced that he was expecting to be a father in a few months. With the withdrawal of multiple players, the fans are disappointed, especially with Shelton, as he last played at the Paris Masters.
Fans not happy with the absence of Ben Shelton at Jeddah
The Next Gen Finals will be starting on November 28th. The sixth edition will see new faces, as the fans will not see the big stars of the season. One of the biggest stars, Shelton, has been targeted by the fans for not playing at the event. The American has always been able to entertain the crowds. He had done the same with his celebrations at the US Open and in UTS.
Shelton had mentioned that he would be missing the Next Gen Finals in an Instagram post a few days ago. He told the fans he would see them next in Australia. Many fans were wondering why he was missing the event. “Shelton is surprising, ego???,” commented a fan after confirming Shelton’s absence.
Shelton is surprising, ego???
— 🤔 (@Jamaica658) November 8, 2023
Why isn’t ben playing? Literally an opportunity most new players dream of, even musetti.
— Jameto (@Jametocoded) November 8, 2023
One fan felt the young player should play at the event as it is a good opportunity. “Why isn’t ben playing? Literally an opportunity most new players dream of, even musetti.” Shelton has played 50 matches this year.
Why isn’t ben playing? Literally an opportunity most new players dream of, even musetti.
— Jameto (@Jametocoded) November 8, 2023
The 21-year-old would not be able to play at the Next Gen Finals next season due to age restrictions. He would have gotten the exposure needed with other young stars. Fans will now have to wait until January to glimpse of this year’s US Open semifinalist. Shelton will again come up with new celebrations in front of the Melbourne crowd.