The US Open finalist is ready to finish his 2026 season with a statement.
Chris OddoOctober 6, 20262 minute read
Ben Shelton is back in action in Shanghai, and the 23-year-old American has plenty to play for as he begins the final stretch of his best season yet.
The 2026 US Open runner-up, who last competed for Team USA during its Davis Cup loss to Czechia, enters the Rolex Shanghai Masters ranked No.4 in the world and firmly in contention for a second consecutive appearance at the ATP Finals in Turin.
“I think it is a massive motivation,” Shelton told ATP Media when asked about qualifying for Turin. “I want to be there playing in the final eight. I want an end-of-year Top-5 finish for the first time.
“I think there are a lot of things to look forward to at the end of this year and I am just excited about the position I am in to be able to compete for something big at the end of the year. I think I am in a good position but I feel there is still a lot of work to do.”
Shelton currently sits fourth in the Race to Turin, effectively third among active contenders with Jannik Sinner having shut down his 2026 season due to injury.
It is a far different position from a year ago, when Shelton made his ATP Finals debut and went 0-3 in round-robin play. This time, he will be hoping not only to return to Turin, but to arrive there as a legitimate threat.
Shelton brings a 39-16 record into Shanghai, leaving him just three victories shy of his career-best total of 42 wins, set in 2024. His season has already been highlighted by a career-best Grand Slam performance at the US Open, where he reached his first major final before falling to Alexander Zverev.
After a first-round bye in Shanghai, Shelton will open against either Holger Rune or Daniel Altmaier in the second round.
The Rolex Shanghai Masters begins October 7, with the men’s final scheduled for October 18.
