After withdrawing from the US Open with a shoulder injury, Ben Shelton’s return to form was anything but smooth. Yet Paris feels reborn. In R32 against Cobolli, Shelton lit up La Défense Arena with his trademark firepower, storming past Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 7-6, 6-3 in the second round of the Paris Masters. However, after his opening-round triumph, the 23-year-old admits the growing weight of chasing ATP Finals glory.

Now at a career-high world No. 6 and sitting sixth in the ATP Race to Turin, Shelton has virtually sealed his debut at the prestigious ATP Finals. With no points to defend in the season’s finale, he stands poised to close 2025 inside the world’s top five, a stunning rise for a player whose path this year has been anything but linear.

After his win, Shelton opened up about the mental pressure surrounding the ATP Finals. Speaking to Tennis Channel, he admitted, “Yeah, I think back against the wall for me is a great thing,” before adding, “I always feel like I’m able to come through in those moments. I feel like that’s when I play my best tennis and in the biggest tournaments, the biggest stages, the most pressure. I’m just enjoying it.”

Later, his tone softened, reflective yet grounded. “You know, I think at the end of the day, it is what it is. You know, my year’s going to end in a couple of weeks. I’m going to go back to Orlando. My life’s not going to change. I’m going to have the same offseason, working hard, trying to get ready for Australia. So, I’m just enjoying it right now. Enjoying being back playing. Trying to get myself to full flight and because that’s when I have the most fun on the tennis court,” he said, his smile as honest as his forehand is fierce.

Even before stepping on court, Shelton’s conversation with Tennis TV painted the portrait of a player who has matured through turbulence. He described his 2025 journey as anything but easy, complex, “not straightforward,” and a “rollercoaster” filled with peaks and valleys. “I’ve had to get myself out of a slump,” he confessed, acknowledging the season’s darker stretches. “It hasn’t been just winning all the time,” he added, his voice carrying the weight of experience earned the hard way.

Reflecting on his North American hard-court swing, Shelton spoke with fondness. That stretch, he said, remains his favorite time of the year, the rhythm, the energy, the familiarity of home soil. He credited his summer success to a simple but powerful belief: growth never stops. “If you don’t keep improving, you get passed,” he remarked, emphasizing how the game constantly evolves and demands its players do the same.

Now, standing on Parisian ground with momentum back in his favor, Shelton prepares for his next battle, a clash with Russia’s Andrey Rublev, who advanced past fellow American Learner Tien to reach the Round of 16. For Shelton, the Paris Masters is more than just another tournament; it’s a resurrection of rhythm and purpose. After the heartbreak of the US Open, the young American has found his smile again, his serve thundering once more, and his belief restored. 

Ben Shelton opens up about Paris Masters’ conditions

With Flavio Cobolli having beaten Ben Shelton twice before, the stage was set for another fierce encounter. But this time, the American arrived sharper and steadier. After a tense opening set that went the distance, Shelton edged it 7-6(4) before turning the momentum fully in his favor.

Once he found his groove, there was no looking back. The 23-year-old dominated the second set 6-3, sealing a confident victory to advance at the season’s final Masters 1000 event. In a match lasting just 1 hour and 32 minutes, Shelton asserted control in nearly every department. He fired 37 winners to Cobolli’s 29, won a commanding 86% of his first-serve points compared to his opponent’s 81%, and converted 33% of his break chances with ruthless efficiency.

But perhaps the biggest key to Shelton’s success was something beyond the numbers, the Parisian surface itself. The slower conditions inside La Défense Arena played right into his strengths. Speaking at the same interview after the match, Shelton explained how the court allowed him to dictate with his serve and force opponents into uncomfortable territory.

“I am enjoying it. I think it’s tough for guys to speed me up. I was really effective on my serve tonight, getting a lot of free points. And I was able to make it a little bit difficult on the other guys serve. Push them deep in rallies, make them feel that they had to do something special to win the point. And that’s always what I hope to do out on the court. So, I think that, this is really good court for me and I’m excited with the way I started my week,” Shelton said, his smile returning with each word.

Adding to his confidence is a key statistic: Shelton holds a 1-0 H2H edge over his next opponent, Andrey Rublev. Their lone encounter came at the 2024 Swiss Indoors Basel quarterfinals, where Shelton edged a thrilling three-setter 7-5, 6-7(7), 6-4. That victory not only showcased his grit but also proved his ability to handle Rublev’s relentless pace.

Now, as Shelton prepares for another showdown against the Russian, one thing is clear: the young American isn’t just playing again; he’s believing again. And when Ben Shelton believes, the court belongs to him.