Ben Shelton is making waves on the tennis circuit, proving he’s not just here to play but to dazzle. With his electrifying game, the young American has left many opponents—and fans—wondering just how far he’ll go. This year alone, even with just one title under his belt, Shelton has shown he’s a rising force, showcasing skill and grit that have drawn admiration from fans and analysts alike. And now, tennis veteran Patrick McEnroe has joined in, with a bold prediction that has everyone buzzing. 

The former American tennis player engaged in an interview with Tennis Channel’s Inside In Podcast on October 24. He spoke on numerous topics including Rafael Nadal’s retirement and the future of the sports. When quizzed about the American players and who could likely be the next one to win a major title, the veteran player could not help singing praises for the 22-year-old.  

Speaking in the interview, he said, “I think Ben Shelton’s got the most upside and even watching him at the Laver Cup, which I’ve been lucky to do the last two years. Watching him play that match with Alcaraz, he lost in straight sets but the first 7-8 games, that was like tennis in a different stratosphere.” Remember, Shelton was a part of Team World for this year’s Laver Cup that was held in Berlin, whose vice-captain is Patrick McEnroe. He highlighted that while the player could not win the match, his tennis was commendable. 

“He couldn’t do it for two sets and obviously to be able to do it over five sets is another story but he did it for eight games. So if he can do it for eight games and match Alcaraz in the athleticism department and the shotmaking department then maybe he is the guy,” McEnroe added. While Shelton did not win against Alcaraz, he indeed demonstrated some sensational gameplay. The American player shot two aces against nil from Alcaraz. Besides, his win percentage on 2nd serve was 71, which was better than Alcaraz’s. 

McEnroe also hinted that Shelton is not intimidated by the top guys in the sport, like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, and that makes him a potential contender for the title. “I think he realizes what he’s going to have to do to get better but you’re right, he may be the American guy with the most upside.” Interestingly, Patrick is not the only person to have lauded Shelton’s skills.

In a recent episode of Good Trouble With Nick Kyrgios, Patrick’s brother, John McEnroe was quizzed on his prediction about the new Big Three. In his response, McEnroe said “It’d be Ben Shelton. He made some great advancements and for us in America would be huge.” Remember, no American player in the ATP circuit has managed to clinch the Grand Slams since Andy Roddick’s victory at the US Open in 2003. And hence, the recent prediction by Patrick McEnroe is indeed crucial for American fans. But it is not just the experts who believe in Shelton’s capabilities as the player himself has some wishes from his career. 

‘I have full belief in myself’ When Ben Shelton expressed his unique desire

Even though Ben Shelton is a young player, he has not failed to showcase his potential. While the tennis world is already mesmerized by his capabilities, Shelton himself has some remarkable desires when it comes to his career, which he revealed during a dinner with Frances Tiafoe and Chris Eubanks for a UTS video in July 2023. 

In the video, Shelton can be heard saying, “I have full belief in myself that I can win Grand Slams, that I can be number one in the world. And I’m not afraid to put in work whatever it takes to get there.” He also expressed his desire to be a player who the opponents would be scared to face. 

“I want to be one of those guys, you are scared of the type of animal they are,” he said. “Like Rafael Nadal, you are scared because you know that he’s been outworking you for the past I don’t know how many years, but every single day he’s doing things to better himself. I want to be that dude in the draw that there’s not one player who wants to see me.”

Ben Shelton’s potential definitely hints that he could be the one to win the next Grand Slam for America as predicted by Patrick McEnroe. But can he continue his remarkable performances? Well, only time will tell.