Patrick McEnroe bets on Ben Shelton to end US Grand Slam drought

Brother of the former world number one John McEnroe, Patrick believes that young Ben Shelton is the ideal candidate to end America’s drought in the men’s singles category in the Grand Slams. World number 23 is often regarded as one of the most talented players currently playing in men’s tennis along with the likes of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Italy’s Jannik Sinner.

Patrick, who is the brother of the former world number one John McEnroe, was recently quoted in a report, who stated that Shelton is the ideal candidate to end America’s men’s Grand Slam drought.

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"I’d like to say there’s a younger American,” he said. “I’ve always been high on Korda but he just seems a little bit fragile physically. He can’t quite stay healthy enough to be a factor in a big tournament. Then you’ve got Fritz who’s the most consistent American guy. I think a lot of things have to break right for Fritz to win a Major but he got to the US Open final, that was a hell of an effort. I think Ben Shelton’s got the most upside and even watching him at the Laver Cup, which I’ve been lucky to do for the last two years. Watching him play that match with Alcaraz, he lost in straight sets but the first 7-8 games, that was like tennis in a different stratosphere. He couldn’t do it for two sets and obviously to be able to do it over five sets is another story but he did it for eight games. So if he can do it for eight games and match Alcaraz in the athleticism department and the shotmaking department then maybe he is the guy.”

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Shelton does not have a great record while playing at a major event. His best outing while playing in a Grand Slam came in the US Open 2023, where he was knocked out after losing in the semifinal to Serbia’s legendary tennis star Novak Djokovic in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-2, 7-6. The 22-year-old is currently taking part in the Swiss Indoors where he booked his place in the semifinal after beating Russia’s Andrey Rublev with a score of 7-5, 6-7, 6-4. He is set to face France’s Arthur Fils who cemented his spot in the last-four after beating Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas with a score of 7-6, 6-3.