"I had a dream last night that Shelton won a Slam": Nick Kyrgios predicts potential 2024 success for Ben Shelton, draws parallels between their game styles

Nick Kyrgios predicted on social media that Ben Shelton could win his first Grand Slam in 2024. The Australian tennis player has previously expressed his admiration for the young star, who went from being relatively unknown on the ATP Tour to currently holding the world No. 17 ranking.

At 21 years old, Shelton dazzled at the 2023 Australian Open by reaching the quarterfinals (losing to Tommy Paul) in only his second tournament outside of his home country. The American emerged as one of the players to watch, showcasing his skills again at the US Open, where he reached the semifinals but fell to the eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

The former Australian Open doubles champion spent most of the 2023 season away from the Tour. Although his return was anticipated in the latter part of the year, Kyrgios still does not have a confirmed date for his comeback. The 28-year-old athlete did not appear in the entry list for the first Grand Slam, despite having a Protected Ranking. It remains uncertain if he will extend his time off, but there is still the possibility of receiving a wild card from the organizers.

Kyrgios, who recently worked as a commentator during the television broadcasts of the 2023 ATP Finals, mentioned on his social media that he sees potential for Ben Shelton to secure his first Grand Slam, perhaps even this year.

"I had a dream last night that Shelton won a slam…. Is 2024 the year? Come to think of it, game is huge, serve is a rocket…. Reminds me of….," Nick Kyrgios posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Shelton will kick off the year at the ATP 250 Brisbane International Open, where he will be the third seed in an exciting main draw to start the season. The field includes four top-20 players and the much-anticipated return of 22-times Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.

The top players in the tournament will be Holger Rune (No. 8), Grigor Dimitrov (14th), Shelton (17th), and Ugo Humbert (24th). Additionally, notable participants include Sebastian Korda (24th), Andy Murray (42nd), and the recent Davis Cup champion Matteo Arnaldi (44th).