Remember the last time an American man conquered Wimbledon? It was 25 years ago when Pete Sampras etched his name in history with a 6-7 (10-12), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 6-2 win over Patrick Rafter. Since then, it’s been a drought of heartbreaks, with Andy Roddick coming closest, falling short in three finals against Roger Federer. However, with Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton both going strong this time, the American dream on the grass court is alive.

Shelton will face the World No. 1 and one of the contenders, Jannik Sinner, in the quarterfinal, but unlike Fritz, who will play Carlos Alcaraz in the semis, the 22-year-old may have an edge over the Italian opponent this time. Before his fourth-round clash, Jannik Sinner was undoubtedly the most dominant player at the 2025 Wimbledon, dropping only 17 games across his this year’s campaign. However, his fourth-round clash with Grigor Dimitrov told a more turbulent tale. In the opening game of that match, Sinner slipped on the grass and braced his fall with his right arm, leading to sharp elbow pain. Though he managed to finish the match, had it not been for Grigor’s injury, Sinner might already be out of the tournament.

As of now, there is no report of any potential injury to Sinner’s elbow. However, while Sinner and his coaches are still confident about his Wimbledon campaign, the elephant in the room remains: that elbow injury. And as Sinner prepares to face the 22-year-old phenom, all eyes are on whether he’ll be physically ready to serve with his usual venom.

On the other side of the net, Ben Shelton is surging with a mix of raw power and youthful bravado. The American lefty breezed through his first three Wimbledon matches in straight sets before running into Lorenzo Sonego in Round 4. After dropping the opening set, Shelton rallied with commanding force to take the next three: 6-1, 7-6, 7-5. This marks his maiden Wimbledon quarterfinal, and he’s not here to just make up the numbers.

Shelton came into this Wimbledon campaign with modest results on grass, holding a 2-3 win-loss record from his prior tournaments in Stuttgart, Queen’s Club, and Mallorca. But his service has been nothing short of electric in London. Called a ‘Servebot’, he averages 7.68 aces per match and serves more than 0.5 aces in 100% of his matches this season. Shelton’s delivery has become a thunderous weapon.

The head-to-head, though, leans heavily toward the Italian. Sinner holds a 5-1 record against Shelton, including a straight-sets win in last year’s Wimbledon R16 and a semifinal victory at this year’s Australian Open. Shelton’s lone victory came in Shanghai in 2023. Still, momentum is fickle, and surfaces matter.

Shelton’s strength lies in his explosive first serve and fearless court positioning. Against returners who struggle to read his delivery, he’s nearly untouchable. Sinner, serving at only 58% against Dimitrov, knows that too, as he himself listed “return of the serve” first on the list of challenges that he might face against the American. If the Italian’s elbow hampers his rhythm, and Shelton attacks his second serves with intent, the tides could shift quickly. Statistically, Sinner holds serve at over 92% in 2025, an elite figure, but any dip, especially in a high-stakes, fast-paced match, could open the door for an upset.

Shelton, for his part, has covered the game spread in all four Wimbledon matches this year. He’s held serve consistently and has shown the kind of fighting spirit that makes him more than just a rising star; he’s a real contender. So, while Sinner’s tactical brilliance and experience make him the favorite, Shelton’s sheer firepower and belief may bring the match into dangerous territory for the world No. 1. If the serve clicks and the elbow holds back the Italian, Shelton could be on the cusp of delivering one of Wimbledon’s most electric upsets.

The grass is fast, the lights are bright, and the American is ready. Buckle in, this one could be a thriller. And Shelton won’t be alone on this ride; by his side is his lucky charm: his sister, Emma, a former pro herself and constant pillar of support, always!

Ben Shelton’s Wimbledon plea works as his sister gets the ultimate backing

Ben Shelton has been firing on all cylinders at Wimbledon, and while his girlfriend, US soccer star Trinity Rodman, has cheered loudly from the stands, it’s his sister, Emma Shelton, who’s emerged as his unexpected “lucky charm.” After a commanding win over Marton Fucsovics in R16, the 22-year-old American lit up the post-match interview with heartfelt gratitude, giving credit where it’s due.

“I have been playing well this week. It’s not just me here; I have a great team. My parents are here, and my girlfriend is here. Also, my sister is here; she’s been here in every match I played in this tournament,” Ben said, glowing with emotion. “She’s been my lucky charm, but she has work back in the US, so on Monday, she works for Morgan Stanley. So when you have something next, so… give her a couple of extra days off so she can really give this role, and that’d be great.”

Hours later, the siblings shared a golden moment on IG. Ben filmed from what looked like his hotel room, catching Emma in the background. “You got the week off or what?” he joked, as she broke into a happy dance. With a playful smirk, Ben delivered the punchline: “Shoutout to Morgan Stanley.”

Emma doubled down on the fun, reposting the clip with her own caption: “thank you MS 💙💙💙, return flight got cancelled 🤪.” It was sibling energy at its best: light, proud, and full of heart.

Now, with his father, girlfriend, and lucky charm sister all in his corner, Shelton’s energy is electric. But can this support system help him conquer top-seeded Jannik Sinner, especially with the Italian battling injury doubts? The answer’s coming, and EssentiallySports‘ Live Blog of the major is the place to find it.