Ben Shelton is gearing up for the Masters 1000 Miami Open, the final event of the Sunshine Double. At the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, he battled a mysterious virus while fighting hard against fellow American Learner Tien in the third round, as he lost in three sets.
Despite a disappointing run at Indian Wells, Shelton aims to regain his peak fitness level and get ready for his second-round match in Miami on Thursday, with his opponent yet to be determined. So far this year, Shelton has experienced two quarterfinal exits (ASB Classic and Australian Open), but he won the ATP 500 title in Dallas last month.
Shelton has been placed in the bottom half of the main draw in Miami. The eighth-seeded American will open his campaign in the second round after receiving a customary bye in the first. He could face Ugo Humbert in the third round and 2023 Miami Open champion Daniil Medvedev as early as the Round of 16.
The in-form Russian could pose a huge challenge for Shelton early in the event. Should the American advance to the quarterfinals, he could run into Tien or face Australian Open semifinalist Alexander Zverev.
The journey only gets tougher from here, as Shelton could then face past champions Jannik Sinner or Jakub Mensik in the semifinals. Shelton’s other potential semifinal opponents include Felix Auger-Aliassime and Andrey Rublev.
Should the American reach the summit clash, he could face any top-10 seed in the top half, including Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, or Lorenzo Musetti. The event has already commenced, with some unseeded players battling in the qualifiers to reach the main draw.
Ben Shelton is Excited to Play in Miami
Ahead of his opening match in Miami, FL, Shelton expressed his happiness at the prospect of playing at home. The American is a former Florida Gators’ tennis star and is well-versed in the conditions of the southern state.
“Flu took me out the last couple of weeks… Miami 🔜 Can’t wait to battle at home 🌴” Shelton captioned his Instagram post.
Shelton has four ATP titles to his name, with his only Masters 1000 title coming at the National Bank Open in Toronto last year. The American will be eager to add another Masters title to his cabinet and his second ATP title in 2026.
Also read:
