Although Ben Shelton was aiming for his second Masters 1000 title, his 2026 BNP Paribas Open campaign ended prematurely. The American lost 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3 to his compatriot Learner Tien in the Round of 32 earlier this week.
Shelton will next be in action at the second ATP 1000 event of the season, the Miami Open, beginning March 18.
In Indian Wells, No. 8 seed Shelton received a bye in the first round. In the Round of 64, he locked horns with another American, Reilly Opelka, who is ranked 68th in the ATP rankings. Despite losing the first set amid his battle with an illness, World No. 8 Shelton defeated Opelka 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-3 in a thrilling contest.
This was the second tour-level meeting between Shelton and World No. 27 Tien. At the 2025 Mallorca Championships, an ATP 250 event, Tien beat his countryman in straight sets. With his recent win, Tien now leads the head-to-head against Shelton 2-0.
Ben Shelton has yet to find his groove this year. He suffered quarterfinal exits at the ASB Classic and the Australian Open in January. The 23-year-old, who won his maiden Masters 1000 title at the 2025 Canadian Open, next played the ATP 500 Dallas Open in February. He displayed brilliant tennis throughout the tournament and eventually defeated Taylor Fritz in the final to win his sixth singles title.
“Huge Props To Him” – Learner Tien Acknowledges Ben Shelton’s Physical Struggles
Despite Ben Shelton’s illness, he played well against Learner Tien, as the difference between the two was not much. Both players broke each other once. Shelton finished with 34 winners and 36 unforced errors, while his 25th-seeded opponent hit 40 winners and 35 unforced errors.
During his interview with Tennis TV after the match, Tien lauded Shelton’s fighting spirit, saying:
“Ben came out not feeling 100%. I don’t think he’s been feeling great all week, but he’s an amazing competitor, and he came out and gave it his all, so I just want to say huge props to him. Even when he’s not at his best, his serve is still incredible. The serve and forehand were really firing in some moments in the match, and you just never know.”
“Nerves definitely played a role. I feel like I was missing some shots that I usually wouldn’t, and my rhythm was not fully there in some moments, but I’m just happy with how I stayed present and how I competed,” he added.
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