Back at the scene of the climb 📈 Last year's quarterfinalist @benshelton gets past Bautista Agut 6-2 7-6(2) 7-5. #AusOpen • #AO2024
No ranking slump for Ben Shelton after early Australian Open defeat here's why
ATPSunday, 21 January 2024 at 22:30
Ben Shelton emerged practically unscathed from his early elimination at the Australian Open. The world No. 16 exited in the third round and couldn't defend his quarterfinal appearance from the 2023 AO, but the point gap he maintained over the players behind him keeps him in the same position for now.
The young American couldn't overcome Adrian Mannarino, who moved up to world No. 17 and was subsequently eliminated by Novak Djokovic. Shelton made a name for himself in the tennis elite after his impressive campaign in Melbourne in 2023, and despite an uneven year, late-year results elevated him to the top 15.
Defending points won't be a concern for Shelton in the coming months. The 20-year-old only reached the second round in six of the seven Masters 1000 events before the US Open (and in the remaining one, Monte-Carlo, he fell in the first round). With his seeding position secured, Shelton will receive byes in several early rounds of these tournaments, allowing each victory to contribute to his point total.
Other significant opportunities lie in the Grand Slam events. He exited in the first round of the French Open and the second round at Wimbledon, providing additional chances to climb in the rankings.
Shelton didn't secure consecutive ATP-level victories between the Australian Open in January 2023 and the US Open in August of the same year. He managed consecutive wins only in the Challenger event in Cagliari, where he secured two victories before bowing out in the semifinals.
After the Australian Open, Shelton will be positioned as world No. 16 with 1965 points, just over 1000 points behind Stefanos Tsitsipas (3025), who will occupy the No. 10 spot starting Monday. Over the next eight months, Shelton will defend just over 300 points, placing him in a strong position to target a spot in the top 10 throughout the year.
The major point defenses for Shelton will only kick in from September, with the semifinals of the US Open (720 points), followed by defending quarterfinals at the Shanghai Masters 1000 (180 points) and the ATP 500 Tokyo Open title.
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