Rod Laver has predicted great heights for Ben Shelton's tennis career in the future after he achieved success at the Laver Cup.

20-year-old Shelton has had a breakthrough season, in what is only his second year on the ATP Tour. He made the quarter-finals of the Australian Open back in January before defeating the likes of Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe to reach the semi-finals of the US Open earlier this month.

This saw him break into the Top 20 in the ATP Ranking, and the American has just finished competing at the Laver Cup where he helped Team World storm to victory against Team Europe with a score of 13-2.

The tournament's namesake and eleven-time Grand Slam champion Laver praised Shelton during a question-and-answer session on social media and predicted great things for his future. He was responding to the following question by Bastien Fachan: "Hi Rod, who are your favourite young players in tennis right now and why?"

"Shelton is the new player on the tour. We're going to see him winning a Slam, he's got one of the biggest serves, a big left-hander, he doesn't make many mistakes," the 85-year-old wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

He also praised the rising talent's ability to take an opportunity when it is there.

"He sees an opening and he goes for it," he continued.

Shelton defeated Arthur Fils with a straight-sets victory in the very first match of the Laver Cup, before teaming up with Felix Auger-Aliassime to oust Hubert Hurkacz and Gael Monfils on the second day.

He also took part in the only match on Day Three, pairing with Frances Tiafoe to take down Hurkacz and Andrey Rublev and secure Team World the win. His other teammates were Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, and Francisco Cerundolo.