"That was a BS gun" – Ben Shelton questions serve speed after dominant Dallas Open win

Ben Shelton is one of tennis’s brightest rising stars. The 22-year-old American has quickly established himself at the top of the professional tour and looks set to be a major force in the years to come.

After reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open, Shelton will be eager to build on that success and secure more silverware in 2025. He started his Dallas Open campaign in style, delivering a commanding performance in his opening match.

Tennis has always been in Shelton’s blood, as his father, Bryan Shelton, was also a professional player. He honed his skills at the University of Florida, where he won the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Singles Championship, providing him with a strong foundation before turning professional in 2022.

Since joining the ATP Tour, Shelton has secured two ATP singles titles and made deep Grand Slam runs, showcasing his potential as a future star.

The powerful server and aggressive baseline player will aim to break through in 2025 by capturing even more silverware. With his dynamic playing style, he is a tough matchup for any opponent.

Shelton is one of the favourites to win the Dallas Open, and he started his campaign with a convincing victory over Aleksandar Vukic.

It was a dominant performance from Shelton, as he quickly dispatched Australia’s Vukic in just over an hour, securing a 6-3, 6-3 victory.

As expected, his serve was a major weapon, winning 90% of his first-serve points and not facing a single breakpointthroughout the match. He also managed to break Vukic’s serve three times, an impressive feat given the Australian’s strong serving ability.

In his post-match comments, Shelton emphasised the importance of consistency as he looks to continue his rise in the rankings.

"[He] is a guy who's a great server. I beat him in my match to make the Top 100, and he bagelled me in the first set of that match. So not an easy matchup for me," Shelton said.

"To break him three times tonight is something I take a lot of confidence in, and moving forward into the rest of the tournament, I feel confident."

Shelton also spoke about his steady improvement, noting that his hard work is paying off.

"I don't think it's an overnight thing. Maybe it's a bit of an evolution, but I think just the steady work paying off," Shelton said.

"I didn't see as many big results last year as I wanted to, but the work was there every single day."

During the match, one of Shelton’s serves was recorded at 159 mph, but the American was skeptical of the reading.

"That was a BS gun," he joked.

Shelton is a fierce competitor, and 2025 promises to be an exciting year for him as he looks to secure more titles and continue his rise in the rankings.