Ben Shelton has reached new heights this season, climbing to a career-high No. 6 ranking and capturing his first Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open. However, Rennae Stubbs believes these achievements don’t translate to Grand Slam readiness. Despite Shelton’s improvements, the former player turned podcaster has made it clear that he’s not equipped to win a major championship anytime soon.
Why Rennae Stubbs Feels Ben Shelton Is Not Yet Ready to Win Grand Slams?
Stubbs has observed Shelton’s evolution closely, particularly noting improvements in his fitness and backhand. However, the former World No. 1 doubles player also suggested that these developments aren’t enough to overcome the sport’s biggest challenge.
“Somebody said, ‘Do you think he can win a slam?’ I don’t think so,” Stubbs said. The primary obstacle? The dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz is at the highest level of tennis.
Stubbs explained the fundamental difference between regular ATP events and Grand Slams. “Not over five sets over the likes of Alcaraz and Sinner because they just could figure out a way to take advantage of certain things,” she said. “Best of five is a very different story than best of three.”
The format distinction becomes crucial when analyzing Shelton’s chances. While the American has shown he can compete with top players in shorter matches, Stubbs believes the extended best-of-five format exposes weaknesses that elite opponents can exploit.
This challenge extends beyond just Shelton. Stubbs argued that men’s tennis, unlike the women’s game, typically sees the strongest player emerge victorious in Grand Slams due to the longer format.
“You have a lot more upsets in the women’s,” she said. “Everyone’s like ‘It’s so hard to win best of five.’ The best player, most of the time, will win the best of five.”
The contrast becomes even sharper when comparing formats. “Best of three, you can have a hot day, and you can lose even if you are a great player, like a Sabalenka, or you know, Iga Świątek,” Stubbs explained.
She continued with an interesting analogy: “I am not saying it’s not harder to win a best of five physically and mentally. Which is why we have had some random people win the Gold Medal at the Olympics. Sprinters combined with marathon runners are always going to win best of five.”
Sinner and Alcaraz’s dominance supports her argument. “That’s why Sinner and Alcaraz have won the last seven Grand Slams,” Stubbs noted, highlighting how the format favors the most complete players.
According to Stubbs, who also served as Serena Williams’ coach in 2022, the upcoming US Open presents the same challenges for Shelton. The best-of-five format continues to favor players with greater consistency and fewer exploitable weaknesses.
“Do I think Ben (Shelton) is going to win the US Open? Probably not, because of the best-of-five situations,” said Stubbs. “But I tell you what, he is getting himself to a point where his weakness is not as glaring.”
What Are Ben Shelton’s Goals After His Toronto Masters Success?
Despite external skepticism, Shelton remains focused on his ultimate objective. Following his Toronto triumph, Shelton revealed that Grand Slam titles remain his primary target, though he acknowledges the work still required.
“To be where I want to be in the game, which is competing for Grand Slam titles, along with these type of titles, there are a lot of things that I still need to get better at,” Shelton said.
His 2025 season results support both his ambitions and Stubbs’ concerns. Shelton has reached at least the Round of 16 at each Grand Slam this year, demonstrating consistent performance at the highest level. However, his losses have come to eventual champions in each instance, suggesting he’s competitive but not quite at the championship level.
The Australian Open provided his strongest Grand Slam showing of the year. Shelton advanced to the semifinals before falling to Sinner in three sets. This result highlights both his potential and the gap Stubbs believes still exists between him and the sport’s elite.
Shelton is currently building his game at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 tournament. He has progressed to the third round, where he will face Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut.
