Ben Shelton is set to face a tough challenge at the 2025 French Open. After narrowly missing the BMW Open title to Alexander Zverev last month, Shelton kicked off his season with a breakthrough Down Under, becoming the youngest American semifinalist at the Australian Open since Andy Roddick in 2003. He followed that with a strong showing at Indian Wells, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to eventual winner Jack Draper. Though he hit a rough patch afterward, Shelton now returns to the Grand Slam stage, eager to prove himself on Roland Garros’ demanding clay courts for the third time. Can he rise to the occasion?

Shelton’s 2025 French Open campaign kicks off on May 25, where he’ll face Lorenzo Sonego in the first round. The American holds a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head, having beaten Sonego in the Australian Open quarterfinals earlier this year. The only time Lorenzo got the upper hand was in the first round of the 2023 French Open. Could this be a rematch where Shelton takes back that win? If he passes Sonego, he’ll meet Hugo Gaston in round two.

Gaston is another familiar opponent; they met in the first round of the 2024 French Open, where Shelton came out on top—but it wasn’t easy. Hugo took the first set before Shelton powered through the next three to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. All eyes will be on Shelton to see if he can pull off another tough victory and advance to the third round, where he’ll face either 2021 French Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas or Martin Etcheverry.

Both Tsitsipas and Etcheverry pose challenges. Shelton leads Etcheverry 3-0 from last season, but Tsitsipas, with two Grand Slam finals under his belt (including the 2023 Australian Open), is a tougher test. Their head-to-head stands at 0-1 in favor of the Greek, giving him a chance to even the score if he gets past him this year.

Making it to the fourth round would be a milestone for Ben since 2023. Here, he’ll face either Zizou Bergs, whom he defeated last year in Houston, or Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Perricard has beaten Shelton twice and is often compared to him for his powerful serve. While Shelton has recorded serves near 150 mph, Perricard’s first-serve speed hits 135 mph with a Serve Shot Quality of 9.4 at tour-level matches since last season. A tough battle awaits.

Should Shelton clear that hurdle, the quarterfinals will pit him against two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Shelton hasn’t faced Alcaraz on clay yet, with their only meetings being at the Laver Cup last year and in Canada 2023. If Shelton pulls off a major upset, he could face Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, fellow lefty Jack Draper, or possibly Jannik Sinner in the semifinals and final. A rough path? Absolutely.

But it’s up to Shelton to show his prowess and go deep at Roland Garros! After all, he noted that he’s getting used to the clay a bit more this season!

Ben Shelton on his goals going ahead in his career

Ben shared his thoughts on the future of American tennis during the Munich Open, noting how many of his peers skip early clay events. “I think there’s something to be said for playing the tournaments that you’re comfortable with, playing the surfaces that you’re happy playing on, and making the most of those weeks. So, everybody’s different. For me, I’d love to have success on clay and be a guy who can compete for titles on all three surfaces.” His open-minded attitude reflects his desire to grow on clay, a surface he’s steadily improving on.

This season, Shelton holds a 5-4 record on clay, highlighted by reaching the ATP 500 BMW Open final in Munich, where he lost to Alexander Zverev. He also made the third round of the Madrid Open and the second round of the Rome Masters, though he exited early in Monte-Carlo. Overall, his career clay record stands at 22 wins and 18 losses—a solid 55% win rate. Last year, Shelton said he was “enjoying playing on clay” and “learning every day,” showing his commitment to mastering the surface.

He also loves comparing European clay to the U.S. version, explaining how moisture changes everything. “Even not just the way the ball goes through the air, but the way it reacts off the court when it is a little damp and heavier and more compact versus in the US, it feels like you’re using rocket launchers,” the 22-year-old said. This insight shows how much he’s paying attention to the subtle differences that affect play.

With a tough Roland Garros draw ahead, Shelton faces a bigger challenge than expected. But his journey promises plenty of excitement and drama. Can he rise to the occasion and carve a deep run? Share your thoughts in the comments below!