American youngster Ben Shelton went into the 2023 French Open ranked World No. 36 in the ATP Tour rankings. It proved to be a forgettable Stade Roland Garros debut for the young American, as he lost to Italian Lorenzo Sonego. Shelton fought hard, but Sonego was simply too hot to handle for the American on the day. American tennis fans had high hopes for the rising star, as he impressed at the 2023 Australian Open, where his performances earned him a place in the quarterfinals. Following his swift exit from the French Open, his father, Bryan Shelton, a renowned tennis coach, decided to take a massive step to facilitate his son’s development as a tennis player.
Before announcing his decision to coach his son, Bryan worked full-time as the coach of the University of Florida’s men’s tennis team. Under Bryan’s tutelage, the team won several titles. Now, Bryan will be hoping that his influence rubs off on Ben the same way it did on the Florida men’s tennis team.
Bryan Shelton’s tennis experience and expertise are sure to be invaluable for Ben Shelton
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
57-year-old Bryan Shelton is no stranger to the ATP Tour. After all, he spent almost ten years as a professional on the tour. While he didn’t taste much success in terms of titles, he gained plenty of experience. He used this experience to turn himself into a coach following his retirement. Bryan’s first stint as a tennis coach came with the USTA in 1998.
BREAKING: Bryan Shelton is leaving Univ. of Florida men's tennis coach position to coach his son Ben Shelton on the ATP Tour….
— Randy Walker (@TennisPublisher) June 2, 2023
After he parted ways with the USTA, he started coaching at Georgia Tech, where his tennis journey began way back in 1985. During his time as the tennis coach of Georgia Tech, he took the women’s team to national glory in 2007.
Seeing his success as the Georgia Tech tennis coach, the University of Florida didn’t think twice before appointing him as its men’s team’s coach in 2012. Bryan’s track record as the men’s tennis coach of the University of Florida was excellent. Across 11 seasons, he led the team to 3 Southeastern Conference titles. His biggest achievement came in 2021, as the team won the NCAA championship.
Read More: All You Need To Know About the 20-Year-Old American Tennis Prodigy Ben Shelton’s Parents
Can Ben Shelton rise to prominence in the ATP Tour under his father’s guidance?
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Ben’s meteoric rise to tennis stardom may have come as a surprise to many fans of sport around the world. However, in the US, Ben’s name became quite well-known in 2022 as he captured the NCAA singles crown. However, it was at the 2023 Australian Open where Ben’s talent shone on the global stage.
His stellar performances in Australia took him all the way to the quarterfinals. However, his quarterfinal appearance ended in defeat at the hands of Tommy Paul. Despite his loss, Ben gave it his all and even managed to win a set against Paul. Now that Ben’s father Bryan is taking over his coaching duties, it’s fair to hope that Ben will bounce back with a bang from his French Open disappointment.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Do you see him winning an ATP Master’s title in 2023? Let us know in the comments.
Watch This Story: Former French Open Winner Claims Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal Possess More Charisma than Novak Djokovic