STUTTGART/STARNBERG, November 4, 2026
Ben Shelton has enjoyed a phenomenal 2026 season on the ATP Tour. Following title victories in Dallas and Munich, the US-American claimed his first-ever grass-court trophy at the BOSS OPEN in Stuttgart. He continued his impressive run by winning the ATP Masters 1000 event in Montreal before reaching his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open in New York. Only Alexander Zverev, Germany’s top player and also on the entry list for the 2027 BOSS OPEN, managed to stop the left-hander’s remarkable run, defeating him in four sets in the final. As of Monday this week, Zverev has also climbed to the top of the world rankings.
Shelton’s outstanding results have propelled him to a career-high No. 4 in the ATP rankings. Numerous experts believe he has every chance of establishing himself as a consistent top-three contender in the coming years. More recently, the 23-year-old made headlines by announcing that Juan Carlos Ferrero, the Spanish coach who guided Carlos Alcaraz to the top of the game, will join his coaching team alongside his father, Bryan Shelton. Interestingly, Ferrero also has a Stuttgart connection, having won the ATP tournament there in 2011, when the event was still played on clay.
Shelton excites tennis fans not only with his explosive serve, regularly exceeding 230 km/h, but also with his athleticism, mental toughness and composure under pressure. His title run in Stuttgart provided plenty of evidence of those qualities. In the round of 16, he saved a match point against fellow American Marcos Giron, while he had to fight off two more in his semi-final against Czech player Jiri Lehecka.
The final against BOSS brand ambassador Taylor Fritz was another high-quality encounter. In front of a packed Centre Court at the Weissenhof, Shelton eventually prevailed in three sets, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, to lift the trophy.
“I have always felt very comfortable in Stuttgart. Winning the title this year has made the BOSS OPEN even more special to me. The tournament at the Weissenhof is perfectly organised, and the fans always create an incredible atmosphere during the matches. I am really looking forward to returning to Stuttgart for the next three seasons, and I will do everything I can to be just as successful as I was this year,” Shelton said.
His girlfriend, Trinity Rodman, could play a special role in helping him achieve that ambition. The daughter of former basketball superstar Dennis Rodman and a leading figure in the US women’s national soccer team was present in the stands for all of Shelton’s matches in Stuttgart last June.
“You’re my lucky charm. I think I’ve won every tournament you’ve attended,” Shelton said during the trophy ceremony, paying tribute to Rodman, who had travelled directly from an international match in Brazil to the Weissenhof to support him.
Tournament director Edwin Weindorfer was equally delighted with Shelton’s long-term commitment to the grass-court event.
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