Ben Shelton stepped into the interview room with a quiet confidence that matched his mindset heading into this week’s tournament. With nearly 20 top players pulling out of Toronto, including three of the world’s top six, the American finds himself staring at the kind of opportunity that can define a player’s breakthrough moment.
How Is Ben Shelton Viewing the Mass Withdrawals in Toronto?
This year’s ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto has seen an unusually high number of withdrawals. A total of 17 players, including some of the sport’s biggest names, have opted out for various reasons.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic (currently ranked No. 6) headline the list of withdrawals. Other notable absentees include Jack Draper (World No. 5), Tommy Paul, Grigor Dimitrov, and Sebastian Korda.
When asked how the locker room feels in the wake of so many elite players bowing out, Shelton offered a measured response that revealed his competitive hunger. “I guess a sense of opportunity. I think a lot of players probably feel that,” he said. “For me, I’m excited whenever it’s a big tournament, no matter who is in it, and the more top players in it, the better, you know. I’m sure that the fans feel the same way.”
Despite acknowledging the obvious void at the top of the draw, Shelton was quick to emphasize that the tournament remains a significant challenge. “Some unfortunate pullouts of the tournament this year, four of the top six, I think it is,” he noted. “But, yeah, you know, there’s a lot of great players, hungry, in-form players, who are looking to do some damage and, yeah, I think I’m one of those guys.”
The American’s perspective reflects the mindset of a player who understands that opportunities in professional tennis are rare and must be seized. “It’s just as tough. There’s so many great players on tour. It’s not like, oh, you know, a few of the top guys or guys at the top aren’t playing, you know, it’s a free-for-all (laughing). I think it’s still, you know, just as difficult, and another opportunity to just get matches in and gain confidence going into the US Open.”
What Does Shelton’s Draw Look Like in His Third Toronto Appearance?
Shelton will be making his third appearance in Toronto, where he enters as the fourth seed. The seeding represents a significant boost for the American, who received a bye into the second round as a result of his position in the draw.
However, his opening match won’t be a walkover. Shelton will face French qualifier Adrian Mannarino in what promises to be a challenging second-round encounter. This matchup carries particular weight given their history on tour.
The head-to-head record heavily favors the experienced Frenchman, who holds a commanding 2-0 advantage over Shelton in their previous ATP Tour meetings. For Shelton, this represents both a hurdle to overcome and an opportunity to even the score against a player who has had his number in the past.
The winner of their second-round clash will advance to face either 25th seed Brandon Nakashima or Ethan Quinn in the third round, setting up what could be an all-American affair depending on results.
