Ben Shelton is back in action at the Rolex Shanghai Masters 2025 after a tough shoulder injury ended his US Open run. A month ago, the 22-year-old walked off Arthur Ashe Stadium in tears, forced to retire from his third-round match against Adrian Mannarino. The score was level at two sets each when the injury struck.
“It is getting there,” Shelton told ATP Media on Tuesday when discussing his shoulder injury. “As any injury, it takes time to recover. I wouldn’t show up to a tournament unless I thought I was ready and that is why I skipped a few, but I should be ready to go now.”
Shelton Aims For ATP Finals Qualification
Ben Shelton called the pain the “worst ever in his life.” But after weeks of rehab, he feels ready to finish the season strong. His 2025 season includes a Masters 1000 title in Toronto and a semi-final run at the Australian Open. These results highlight his growth on hard courts and his steady rise in form.
The American sits sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin with 3,710 points. He leads Felix Auger-Aliassime by 1,005 points. Jack Draper, currently ninth, will miss the rest of the season, improving Shelton’s qualification chances.
“I am very excited,” Shelton said. “It is the first time I have put myself in a good position at this point in the year to make Turin. Hopefully I get a couple more good results and get over the line. I am happy with the way I have played this year and with what I have been able to do. I am not done, I have more things I want to accomplish this year and let’s see where we are in a month’s time.”
Focused And Ready In Shanghai
Shelton faces David Goffin or Alexandre Muller in his opening match in Shanghai. He enters the event as the sixth seed and a former quarter-finalist. Thanks to his seeding, he will have a private locker room, something he believes helps him stay focused.
“You get the peace and quiet,” Shelton said. “I waste a lot of time speaking to different people in the locker room, so I guess it is a good thing for me to be able to focus and get in and out.”
The field includes World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, defending champion Jannik Sinner, and four-time winner Novak Djokovic. The event runs from 1-12 October 2025, and it could decide Shelton’s path to his first Nitto ATP Finals.
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