Ben Shelton was ‘Big-Point Ben’ in 2025.
The American, who started the season at number 21 in the PIF ATP ranking, reached a career-high world no. 6 on Friday after his first ATP Masters 1000 Triumph in Toronto. According to an Infosys ATP outside the numerical analysis, there is a big reason why his success has been, both breakpoints and to convert.
Shelton exceeds all his top 10 colleagues except Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz saved in breakpoints. He also performs better than his normal return statistics to hold his own converting breaking points, so that he can thrive under pressure.
“I think it’s a mix that I feel comfortable and confident in my game at those moments, playing my game and playing an aggressive style of tennis and not being afraid to go after it,” said Shelton. “It is difficult if you play a big server, someone who can get the racket out of your hands at times when you have a breaking point. You think it might be your only chance, you get tense.”
The figures show that Shelton has risen for the occasion. The 22-year-old has one of the biggest service there, so of course he performs well if he is confronted with the Break point.
Shelton saved 67.1 percent of the breaking points against him, who is fifth on tour and the third of the top 10 players behind only Sinner (71.1%) and Alcaraz (67.8%). He explained that there is a similarly tense feeling when confronting the prospect to drop.
“If you lose the serve, the set can be over,” Shelton said, clicking his fingers. “It’s difficult. I know I feel it when I play against the big servers [like] Mpetshi Perricard or Opelka or Diallo, Fritz, each of those guys, they can get the racket out of your hand, it can be difficult. And I am sure some guys feel the same as they play against me. ”
In 2025, the LEFTty has converted 41.8 percent of its breaks, the 13th best figure among all players on the ATP tour. That is favorable compared to his general return games, a stat in which he is currently 43rd.
The top players in the PIF ATP rankings generally excel on return. Nine members of the top 10 are in the Top 25 for return games this season, so that Shelton is put behind. But in breaking points converted – an important return statistics – the American is sixth among the top 10 players, who has made a big difference in his results.
Shelton’s link performance was clear and it came in handy in Toronto, where he saved 76.9 percent of the breaking points that confronted him, including five of the six in the final against Karen Khahanov. The best player in saving breaking points this season is sinner, with 71 percent.
Shelton is fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin and is in good position to be eligible for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. The American will try to maintain his coupling game this week in the Cincinnati Open, where he starts his tournament against Camilo Ugo Carabelli on Sunday.
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