Q. Season’s not over yet. Still one match. … How would you rate this 2025 season from 1 to 10? Also, is there one thing for the next season you want to improve, something that you will work on? What would you pick?
BEN SHELTON: Yeah, I guess if I rated it 1 to 10, maybe an 8 out of 10, 7 or 8. I made huge improvements and strides from the year before.
What I’ve done kind of post US Open I haven’t been happy with. But the rhythm that I found in the first three-quarters of the year was really good.
I’m a guy that I get into a really good rhythm when I’m playing a lot of matches. I had a lot of clarity this summer on how to play: shot tolerance, what shots to play at certain times. Had a lot of clarity on what my identity was on the court, how I was going to win, my winning formula. Still searching for that a little bit right now.
These last four tournaments of the year – Shanghai, Basel, Paris, here – have been more difficult for me trying to find that ‘wow’ feeling that all the guys that I have played have been in form and playing great tennis, competing well. Just certain things that feel very off that at this point of the year it’s, like, can’t be happening.
For me this week, it’s been my forehand, which usually is a money shot for me, money-maker. First ball after the serve, things that have been a little off that make it disappointing.
A lot of things to be happy about this season.
