Ben Shelton failed to carry the positive momentum from his Dallas Open victory into the Sunshine Double in March. The 23-year-old lost to fellow American Learner Tien in the third round of the Indian Wells Masters and then suffered a shocking opening-round exit in Miami at the hands of unseeded Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko.
Despite already claiming an ATP 500 title this season, Shelton aims to produce better results during the claycourt swing, where he has been fairly decent in the past. The American will next be in action at the ATP 250 Houston Open, with his opening round scheduled for Tuesday.
After the only claycourt event on home soil, Shelton will headline the ATP 500 BMW Open in Munich, followed by the Mutua Madrid Masters in April.
Last year, Shelton reached the final of the Munich Open, where he lost to local favorite Alexander Zverev. Still, he had disappointing results in both Monte Carlo and Madrid, as he was knocked out in R2 and R3, respectively. This year, however, Shelton will not be playing in Monte Carlo, as he has prioritized the Houston Open.
Fellow Americans Will Join Ben Shelton at the Houston Open
Shelton isn’t the only American pro who has sidestepped from the Monte Carlo Masters to play in Houston. For the ATP 250 claycourt event on home soil, starting Monday, Shelton will be joined by fellow Americans Learner Tien, defending champion Jenson Brooksby, Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe, and others.
Shelton will play in both singles and doubles at the Houston Open. The American is seeded first in singles, while he will be unseeded in doubles, partnering fellow Gator Andres Andrade of Ecuador.
Shelton will commence his quest in the doubles on Monday, while he will play his opening-round singles match on Tuesday, with his round-of-16 opponent yet to be decided.
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