Ben Shelton’s injury woes show no signs of stopping and have further compounded problems for the young American. In a surprising development, the heavy-hitting left-hander has withdrawn from the upcoming Japan Open, where he finished as a quarterfinalist last year.
Shelton last competed during the North American hard-court swing, and a stellar lead-up established him as one of the favorites to lift the US Open. He reached the semifinals at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, won his first Masters 1000 title in Toronto, made the quarterfinals in Cincinnati, and carried that momentum into Flushing Meadows.
Why Is Ben Shelton Opting Out of the Japan Open?
Shelton has been sidelined with a shoulder injury sustained during his US Open campaign. The World No. 6 suffered a major setback in his third-round clash with France’s Adrian Mannarino. A sudden shoulder injury forced him to withdraw from the US Open and subsequent events, including the Davis Cup qualifier.
In fact, his absence dealt a major blow to Team USA, which subsequently fell to Team Czechia.
As fans eagerly anticipated the youngster’s comeback on the Asian swing, a worrying update dashed those hopes. Journalist Jose Morgado revealed that Shelton’s injury layoff would now sideline him for the Japan Open, running from September 22 in Tokyo.
Shelton (2023 champ) out of Tokyo.
Ben is looking good to qualify for Turin, but this should injury worries a lot…
(Meanwhile, Tsitsipas out of Beijing…) pic.twitter.com/YuDuQdUlsD
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 18, 2025
Shelton had previously claimed the 2023 Japan Open title, outfoxing Aslan Karatsev 7-5, 6-1 in the final.
MORE: Ben Shelton in Attendance at USA’s Davis Cup Tie vs Czech Republic Days After Withdrawal
Shelton appeared wincing from his shoulder injury and looked deeply disheartened as he walked off the court. After withdrawing, he admitted that while he usually finds a way to play through challenges, the severity of this shoulder injury was something entirely different.
“Usually I’ll play through anything and just find a way. And whether it’s sickness or injury, if I can stay out there, I can stay out there. I’ve never felt anything like this before, so that was kind of tough, I guess the uncertainty.” Shelton said after the match.
Shelton’s withdrawal highlights the seriousness of his injury, but he’s making the most of his time off. He recently enjoyed a beach getaway with his girlfriend, Trinity Rodman, where the couple had fun playing American football against the serene seaside backdrop.
