After transferring from South Carolina, Ben Shelton’s sister signed with the Gators on June 15, 2021.
The big-serving lefty, Ben Shelton, has become the youngest American man to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open since Andy Roddick in 2003.
Highlights
- Ben Shelton won against Lorenzo Sonerrgo in the Australian Open 2025 tennis match.
- Shelton’s sister, Emma Shelton, is also a tennis player who moved up the ranks as a junior, going from the 200s in 2015 to No. 72 in 2018.
- Ben’s sister Emma recently celebrated her brother’s victory against French tennis player Gael Monfils.
Shelton battled into the second Grand Slam semifinal of his career at Melbourne Park on Wednesday afternoon, outdoing first-rim major quarterfinalist Lorenzo Sonerrgo, 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (4).
Sonego and Shelton had previously met twice, splitting those meetings, but the American had won their only hard court meeting in Cincinnati in 2022 when he was still a teenager.
He seemed headed for a straight-set victory on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, after taking a relatively uncomplicated two-sets-to-none lead.
Things got a bit complicated in the third, though. After nine holes in a row to start the set, Shelton was broken from 40-0 up in the 10th game, eventually missing a forehand on set point to put Sonego right back into contention.
There was also more danger in the fourth set, as Shelton faced a break point serving at 2-3.
However, it was a high-quality match for both players. Shelton finished with 21 more wins than unforced errors (54 to 33), while Sonego was also positive (63 to 55).
In the semifinals, Shelton faces either world No. 1 Jannik Sinner or Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur.
Ben Shelton’s Sister, Emma Shelton, Is Also A Tennis Player
Ben Shelton’s sister Emma Shelton, 23, was born on March 18, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
Emma also has a keen interest in tennis. As a junior, she gradually rose, going from the 200s in 2015 to No. 72 in 2018.
Her victory in the USTA Winter National Championships in January, where she won seven straight matches, earned her the ITA Carolina Region of the Year title.
After her sophomore year, she finally decided to transfer to the University of Florida, where her father was the head coach of the men’s team.
However, her pursuit of climbing the ladder of success did not stop there.
She came to the highlights when she inked a contract with the Gators in June 2021, a significant turning point in her career.
Emma bagged two singles victories and one double win at the UNF Invitational.
Before participating in any of the two collegiate women’s teams, Emma Shelton was regarded as the No. 7 talent in Florida and a five-star recruit.
Her commitment to the game and her love for it are proof of the strong family history she bears, as does her younger sibling, Ben Shelton.
In April 2024, Emma celebrated her brother’s historic victory at the U.S. Men’s Claycourt Championships in Houston.
Following Shelton’s win in Houston, Emma excitedly posted about her brother’s victory on Instagram.
She shared Shelton’s tweet from the ATP 250 clay court event, in which he won the title, along with a couple of trophy emojis.
Recently, Emma Shelton took to her Instagram story to celebrate her brother’s victory against Gael Monfils.
She shared three stories, the final one showing Gael Monfils hugging Bryan Shelton, Shelton’s father and coach.
Additional Information
- As a true freshman in 2021, Ben won the fifth singles match to clinch the Gators” first-team national championship. The following year, he won the men’s singles title at the 2022 NCAA Division I Tennis Championships.
- Shelton made his ATP Tour debut in July 2022 at the Atlanta Open, where he won his opening match. The following week, he played in the Cincinnati Masters, reaching the third round, highlighted by a win over world No. 5 Casper Ruud.
- As of March 2023, Shelton is sponsored by On for clothing and shoes and Yonex for racquets. On January 14, 2024, Shelton announced his partnership with Rolex.
