Ben Shelton ended the Asian swing with a maiden trophy in his hand. He reached his first-ever final on the ATP tour and went on to win the title in Tokyo. In all his matches at the event, Shelton pumped up his emotions, but he maintained his composure in the final against Aslan Karatsev. Fans were waiting for the “dialed in” celebration but were surprised with a new style of celebration.
Shelton mimicked going to the office in a suit with a tie and a briefcase. Later, he revealed that his friend and fellow player, Mackenzie McDonald, had suggested it. Shelton said, “This celebration where you act like you’re fixing your tie and your suit and holding a briefcase like it’s all business.” The celebration has been Shelton’s latest trick on the tour.
All business. 💼 @BenShelton pic.twitter.com/2QJ10czzUo
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) October 23, 2023
The Tokyo win catapulted Shelton in terms of rankings. He is now No.15, with 490 points being added this week. He is now the youngest American in the top 100 in the ATP tour and can further go up in the next two weeks. The 21-year-old started the season at No.98 and did not take much time to enter the elite list.
Ben Shelton beats Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and others in a unique record
Shelton took his talents to new heights after climbing up in the rankings. After winning his first title on tour, the young player has beaten the records of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Carlos Alcaraz. Nadal was ranked No.49 after winning his first title in Warsaw, Poland, in 2004 while beating Jose Acasuso in straight sets.
Djokovic won his first title in 2006 at Amersfoort, Netherlands, and cracked the top 30 for the first time. The Serbian’s former arch-rival, Federer, achieved a ranking up to No.22 after winning the title in Milan, Italy, in 2001. Meanwhile, Djokovic’s current rival, Alcaraz, won his first title in 2021 at Umag, Croatia, and reached No.55 in the rankings. In comparison, Shelton has performed better than his seniors.
Welcome to the Top 15, Ben Shelton.
🫡 📞 pic.twitter.com/ZViRdpTjLY
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 23, 2023
The 2023 US Open semifinalist is now in 14th place for the Nitto ATP Finals. Shelton has 2275 points and is 335 points behind eighth-placed Holger Rune. Positive results at Vienna and Paris can push him closer to qualifying for the season-ending championship. Shelton will be facing Jannik Sinner in the opening round at Vienna, as it will be a close battle from day one.