ASB Classic: American leader Ben Shelton confirms return to Auckland in 2025

That first visit to Auckland last year was the start of a massive season. He reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open – his second Grand Slam – and then made the quarter-finals of the US Open, only to be stopped by Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals as he experienced a huge wave of patriotic support in Flushing. Meadows. It was more than that: he reached the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters (beating Jannik Sinner along the way) and then won his first ATP title in Japan, which vaulted him to 15th in the world.

This year has been more about consolidation. There weren’t any deep big runs, but he was more consistent. He reached the last four in Dallas and Washington, reached the quarterfinals of a 1000-level tournament in Cincinnati and won the trophy in Houston.

He was comfortably in the top 20 for over a year before dropping to 23rd place after failing to defend multiple points in Tokyo and Shanghai.

“My career started very quickly, and perhaps I was not quite ready for some successes,” said the American. “This year I have established myself as a consistent player on tour – someone who competes and wins matches every week.

“Now I want to focus on taking the next step in fighting for titles longer than I have now. I’ve done a lot of good work over the last 12-18 months. I’m not looking for a quick fix or instant gratification, but I think my work will pay off over time. I have big ambitions in this sport.”

Despite his rise and newfound fame, Shelton maintained a coaching agreement with his father Brian, which began when he played college tennis at the University of Florida in 2020.

“My relationship with my father is special because we know each other very well and trust each other very much. We have the same goals; we have the same mentality and we’re both competitors that really want to win,” Shelton said. “I trust him with my play and guiding me in the right direction and he trusts me to be able to do what he’s trying to get me to do.”

While names have yet to be confirmed, Shelton will be an early favorite for the title in Auckland, where the surface – and atmosphere – matches his game.

“Ben is one of the most exciting young players,” said ASB Classic tournament director Nicholas Lamperin. “He’s big, very athletic and exciting – part of a new generation of young players who are bringing energy to the game.”

Michael Burgess has been a sports journalist since 2005, winning several national awards and covering the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup and America’s Cup campaigns.