New Delhi: American tennis star Ben Shelton is back in singles action at the Shanghai Masters, with his main focus now on the final weeks of the 2026 season. After a strong run at the US Open, Shelton is now aiming to secure a place at the ATP Finals in Turin and finish the year inside the world’s top five.
Shelton has not played a singles tournament since reaching the US Open final last month. His run in New York was a major moment in his career as he became only the second American men’s player since Andy Roddick in 2006 to reach the championship match at Flushing Meadows.
However, Shelton’s title hopes ended against Alexander Zverev. Despite the loss, his performance gave him an important boost in the race for the ATP Finals.
Ben Shelton Eyes ATP Finals Qualification
With only around five weeks left before the ATP Finals, Shelton currently sits third in the ATP Live Race To Turin.
The 23-year-old American is not only looking to qualify for the season-ending tournament. He also wants to finish the year among the top five players for the first time in his career.
Speaking to ATP Media, Shelton said reaching the ATP Finals is a big motivation for him. He wants to be among the eight players competing at the event and believes he is in a strong position, although there is still plenty of work left to do.
His confidence comes from a strong 2026 season so far. Shelton has already recorded 39 tour-level wins, just three behind his career-best total of 42 wins, which he achieved in 2024.
If he reaches the semifinals in Shanghai, Shelton will move past his previous career-best mark.
Shanghai Masters Holds Special Meaning for Shelton
The Shanghai Masters is not just another tournament for Shelton. It was the event where he made his first major breakthrough at the Masters 1000 level in 2023.
That year, he reached the quarterfinals and picked up some important wins along the way.
Shelton has spoken positively about his experience in Shanghai and considers it one of the best Masters tournaments on the ATP Tour. He is now hoping to use his previous success as a starting point and go even further this time.
Who Will Ben Shelton Face in Shanghai?
Shelton will begin his Shanghai Masters campaign against the winner of the match between Holger Rune and Daniel Altmaier.
Rune will be making only his second appearance at a tour-level event this season after spending time away from competition while recovering from an Achilles injury.
The opening match could therefore give Shelton an interesting challenge as he begins his push towards the final stages of the tournament.
Shelton Chasing Fifth Title of the Season
The Shanghai tournament also gives Shelton another chance to build on the momentum he gained from his US Open run.
The American is currently chasing his fifth title of the 2026 season. A strong performance in Shanghai could help him strengthen his position in the Turin race while also improving his chances of ending the season inside the top five.
Another factor working in Shelton’s favour could be the support he receives from Chinese tennis fans.
He has previously spoken about the warm welcome he gets in China, saying fans often greet players even at the airport. Shelton said he feels welcomed by local supporters and enjoys seeing the tennis fanbase continue to grow.
Shanghai Masters Begins Final Stretch of Season
The ATP Masters 1000 tournament begins on Wednesday and will run until October 18. Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz are the top two seeds for the event.
For Ben Shelton, the tournament comes at an important point in the season. With the ATP Finals getting closer, every win could have a major impact on his position in the race to Turin.
After making history at the US Open, Shelton now has another target in front of him: qualifying for his first ATP Finals campaign and finishing 2026 among the world’s top five.
