“It’s brutal to think about”: Ben Shelton reacts to players stuck in global conflicts ahead of Indian Wells

Ben Shelton arrives in Indian Wells carrying momentum from his recent title run in Dallas, but the build-up to the first ATP Masters 1000 event of the American spring swing has also been shaped by concerns beyond tennis. The 23-year-old American acknowledged that global tensions and travel disruptions affecting players on tour have become a recurring topic inside locker rooms.

Recent geopolitical instability has complicated travel across parts of the ATP calendar, leaving some players navigating uncertain logistics after tournaments in the Middle East. In recent days, several competitors — including Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev — faced travel complications following the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where Medvedev lifted the title and Rublev reached the semi-finals.

The issue has added an unusual backdrop to the start of the Indian Wells tournament, widely regarded as the unofficial “fifth Grand Slam.” While players are focused on the demanding conditions and deep fields typical of the California event, many have also been monitoring developments affecting colleagues who remain stranded or facing disrupted travel routes.

Shelton said the situation has not gone unnoticed among players, many of whom share close relationships on tour and follow each other’s circumstances closely when crises emerge in regions hosting tournaments.

“This last tour I had friends playing in a tournament in Mexico with a lot of conflict, friends in the Middle East playing there still, people that are stuck over there,” Shelton said in a press conference. “It's brutal to think about some of that. We talk about it all the time, obviously praying for all the people, families affected and people who are stuck in tough situations right now.”

Despite the off-court concerns affecting the tour, Shelton arrives in Indian Wells with renewed confidence after claiming the Dallas Open title. His run to the trophy featured several tightly contested matches, with the American repeatedly forced to navigate deciding sets and pressure moments.

Rather than seeing those battles as exhausting, Shelton described them as an important source of belief. “It depends. I mean, it gives you a lot of confidence as a competitor when you're getting through the tough ones and coming up in the clutch moments. I played my best tennis when my back was against the wall, so I take a lot of confidence from that.”

Shelton noted that dominant performances — where everything flows smoothly from the opening games — are far less common than fans might expect. More often, players must navigate momentum swings, tactical adjustments and service pressure before finding a path to victory.

“Obviously when you're blowing people off the court, you feel really good about your level, but those good days where everything is going well and you're breaking guys, not getting broken, and just going through sets easily, they don't come all that often.”

At Indian Wells, Shelton begins his campaign in the second round and is scheduled to face fellow American Reilly Opelka in his opening match. The matchup presents an intriguing contest between two of the biggest serves on the ATP Tour, particularly in the slow, high-bouncing conditions of the California desert.

The tournament has grown in importance within Shelton’s schedule as he continues to establish himself among the leading American players. Since his breakout 2023 season — highlighted by a US Open semi-final run and a Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open — Shelton has become one of the most prominent names on the tour.

Confidence, he said, remains central to that ambition. While individual belief is essential, Shelton emphasised that the support structure around him — including his father and coach Bryan Shelton — plays a crucial role during inevitable fluctuations in form.

“I think it's important both ways. You've got to first have belief in yourself, that's most important, but you have to have a team also that fuels that fire and truly believes in you.

And for me, I have always had that, and I think that's just a very important part of it, because there is going to be certain times as a professional athlete in whatever you do, self-belief drops a little bit, or confidence drops a little bit and you've got to have the people there supporting you.”

Shelton also highlighted the importance of relationships within the travelling tennis circuit, noting that players often spend more time with fellow competitors than with their own families. One of his closest friendships on tour is with French player Arthur Fils, another rising talent who has been working his way back after injury setbacks earlier in the season.

The American described those bonds as an important element of maintaining perspective across the demanding ATP schedule. While competition remains intense during matches, many players maintain strong personal relationships away from the court, sharing similar travel routines and career pressures.

“The tennis tour is long, and we see a lot of these people more than we see our own families. My dad is my coach, so I guess I see him more than anybody. You're around these guys a lot, and it is cool to see a guy like Arthur, who's one of my closest friends, also a huge talent and a huge addition to this tour.”