Ben Shelton lauds Carlos Alcaraz's shot-making ability and court presence

Ben Shelton praises Carlos Alcaraz's ability to ‘hit every shot imaginable’. The American had a strong showing at the Swiss Indoors Open, reaching the final but ultimately falling to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 4-6, 6-7(4).

The four-time Grand Slam champion has an impeccable record against his contemporary Shelton, with just over six months between them. Alcaraz triumphed in their two encounters at the 2023 Canadian Open and the 2024 Laver Cup.

Shelton spoke from Basel about Carlos Alcaraz and the high level he has displayed on the Tour. "Alcaraz is a great athlete, capable of hitting every shot imaginable; he entertains the crowd and always has a smile on his face," he said. "He is a personality on the court, and that is what I love to watch. He gives me that feeling of seeing an artist but also someone who plays at the highest level."

The world No. 19 also had kind words for his Bulgarian colleague Grigor Dimitrov. The world No. 9 had a consistent season, returning to the top 10 after more than five years. "Grigor Dimitrov plays beautifully," said Shelton. "I think a lot of things he does are similar to what Roger Federer used to do: perfect technique, the slice, the serve. He is technically solid on every shot, and that is why I love watching him."

Shelton will face his last challenge of the season at the Paris Masters, debuting against qualifier Corentin Moutet. If he advances, a matchup against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner could be on the cards, with Sinner leading their head-to-head 4-1, including three encounters this season (Indian Wells, Wimbledon, Shanghai).