Ben Shelton recently talked about a significant milestone he aims to achieve in 2025. The World No. 7 revealed that competing at the season-ending tournament, the ATP Finals, is one of his primary objectives for the year.
The ATP Finals features the top seven players in the world rankings, with the eighth spot reserved for a player who has won a Grand Slam during the season and is ranked between eighth and 20th.
Why Is Ben Shelton Keen on Securing His Place at ATP Finals 2025?
Shelton is currently in Toronto, competing at the 2025 Canadian Open. He is seeded fourth at the tournament and began his campaign in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. In his opening match, he faced qualifier Adrian Mannarino and secured a straight-sets victory, winning with a scoreline of 6-2, 6-3.
During a post-match interview with Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj, Shelton discussed his ambitions for the 2025 US Open and the ATP Finals. He said he is looking forward to the New York Grand Slam, a highlight of his annual calendar.
The World No. 7 also stated that, besides the US Open, qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin is a “big goal” for him this year, as he is in a position to secure a spot, an opportunity he did not have in previous seasons.
“Those are big ones for me. New York is the one that’s marked on my calendar every year, but especially this year in 2025. Turin’s a big goal for me. I have never really, at this point in the year, been in a position where I’ve given myself a chance to make it there,” Shelton said.
Shelton said that competing in Turin would be a crucial step in “solidifying” his status as a top player in the sport.
“But I think that’s kind of the next step for me, solidifying myself up here at the top. And that’s a big goal as I look towards the end of the year. I’d say those are two for me, but those are a little bit more in the back of my mind compared to the on-court everyday stuff that I’m trying to improve on,” he continued.
Shelton also mentioned that while he is focused on the US Open and the ATP Finals, he is also dedicated to refining various aspects of his game so that he can achieve the results he desires.
“Trying just to become the best version of myself, shore up some of the holes that I have, make my weapons into bigger weapons, and I think if I do those things, I’ll end up sooner or later getting the results I want to see,” Shelton added.
Who Will Shelton Face Next at the 2025 Canadian Open?
Following his victory over Mannarino in the second round of the 2025 Canadian Open, Shelton is set to face fellow American Brandon Nakashima in the third round of the tournament.
In the lead-up to the ATP Masters 1000 hard-court event in Toronto, Nakashima participated in the 2025 Citi DC Open, where he triumphed over Ethan Quinn and Cameron Norrie before being eliminated by eventual champion Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals.
At the Canadian Open, Nakashima, seeded 25th, began his campaign in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. He faced Quinn in his opening match and secured a victory with a scoreline of 7-6(6), 6-4. This win earned him a spot in the third round, where he will take on Shelton.
Shelton and Nakashima have met four times on the ATP Tour, with the World No. 7 winning all four encounters. Their most recent matchup was in the fourth round of the 2025 Indian Wells Masters, where Shelton emerged victorious with a scoreline of 7-6(6), 6-1.
The winner of the third round match between Shelton and Nakashima at the 2025 Canadian Open will advance to face either 13th seed Flavio Cobolli or Fábián Marozsán in the fourth round.
In addition to his singles campaign in Toronto, Shelton is also competing in the doubles event. He has teamed up with Arthur Fils, and they will begin their run against the American duo of Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow in the first round.
The victors of this matchup will proceed to face either the eighth-seeded pair of Hugo Nys and Édouard Roger-Vasselin or the team of Nuno Borges and Tomáš Macháč in the second round.
