Partnerships in professional tennis go much beyond the court. Amidst the chaos of the Houston Open, fans and athletes alike were moved by the unexpected reunion of two college pals who are now professional athletes. Ben Shelton, his closest friend and old college mate, and rising tennis sensation Andres Andrade found themselves sharing the spotlight once more. But this time, it was in the thrilling world of professional tennis.

The World No. 16 player Ben Shelton recently played a doubles event with Andres Andrade at the US men’s clay court championship. The craze for Ben Shelton in the tennis world is not a secret to anyone. However, very little is known about the 25-year-old tennis professional.

Everything you need to know about Ben Shelton’s college mate, Andres Andrade

Born on December 14, 1998, the Ecuadorian player has a career-high ATP singles ranking of 559. On January 30, 2023, he attained a career-high ATP doubles ranking of 452. Andrade has a 0-1 W/L record while competing for Ecuador in the Davis Cup. He attended the University of Florida to play collegiate tennis, along with Ben Shelton with the Gators.

He has an outstanding record of playing tennis during his college years. With a record of winning 134 singles matches, he holds the program record for most career singles wins during his college career. For two consecutive years, he held the reputation of winning the SEC tournament in his college. Andrade graduated in spring 2022 with a degree in International Studies.

Before playing in the Houston Open, he participated in the ITF San Luis Potosí Challenger. After experiencing a first-round exit from the match, he is currently concentrating on the clay court championship. And with Ben Shelton at his side, he skillfully won the first round of the tournament.

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During their reunion at the Houston Open, fans got a glimpse of their on-court partnership. After the match, Andrade shared his opinion on how and when Shelton became a true athlete.

Andrade’s appreciation for Shelton’s career after their first doubles match

During their freshman years, Andrade and Shelton were both players for the Florida Gators. The pair competed in the 2021 NCAA team championship as members of the Gators’ inaugural championship team. After two years, fans saw the duo play together for the first time in the professional circuit. Their partnership at the Houston Open garnered a lot of attention. Even though they dropped the first set, Shelton and Andrade battled back to square the match and win the 10-point tiebreaker. Soon after, they defeated their opponents with a score of 6-7(5), 6-3, and 10-5.

In a post-match interview, Andrade talked candidly about Ben Shelton’s extraordinary collegiate tennis career. He emphasized how the American’s work with his father in 2021 improved his entire game. Not only that, he further highlighted his “serve” as the most special skill of Ben Shelton. Andrade has always vocalized his appreciation for Shelton. This was evident last year wherein he took Shelton’s side when he was given the tag of “arrogant”.

Although it was their first match together, Andrade’s admiration for Ben Shelton is crystal clear. As both of them move forward into the tournament, fans are hoping to see their on-court union once again!

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