MELBOURNE, Australia – Ben Shelton’s rise in men’s tennis continued at the Australian Open. The American advanced to the fourth round with a straight-sets win over Valentin Vacherot, solidifying his status among the sport’s up-and-coming stars. Shelton, the No. 8 seed, defeated the player from Monaco 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (5) on Friday, Jan. 23. Reaching the Round of 16 in Melbourne for the second year in a row. The 23-year-old used his powerful left-handed serve and strong baseline play to dominate most of the match, finishing it in just over two hours despite a closer third set.
The Atlanta native will next play Casper Ruud in a fourth-round match set for Sunday. The game is expected to take place during the evening session in Melbourne. Ruud advanced by defeating Marin Cilic, leading to a high-stakes showdown between two players ranked in the world’s top 10. The winner will move on to the quarterfinals. Shelton’s ongoing success at Grand Slam tournaments marks a rapid rise that started just a few seasons ago. After an impressive college career at the University of Florida, where he won the NCAA singles championship, Shelton turned professional in 2022 and quickly moved up the ATP rankings. His game, built around one of the biggest serves on tour and bold shot-making, has adapted well to high-level competition. Shelton has won three ATP singles titles, including his first Masters 1000 championship at the 2025 Canadian Open in Toronto.
That breakthrough helped secure his place in the top 10 later that year, and he reached a career-high ranking of No. 5 in November 2025. At the majors, Shelton has already achieved results that are rare for someone his age. He reached the semifinals of the 2023 U.S. Open and followed that with another semifinal run at the 2025 Australian Open, proving he can consistently achieve the later rounds of Grand Slam events. This year in Melbourne, Shelton has displayed greater composure and tactical smarts, handling early rounds effectively and responding to pressure situations with more confidence. His ability to perform on big stages has become a key part of his young career. While Shelton is still chasing his first Grand Slam title, his consistent deep runs at major tournaments and success at the Masters level have made him a real contender. As he prepares to face Ruud, Shelton remains a strong player as the Australian Open enters its final stages.