American sensation Ben Shelton reveals who is his favorite player between Federer, Nadal and Djokovic

While players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have started to establish their dominance on the ATP Tour, other young talents are looking to break through. One of them is Ben Shelton, who achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 12 in only three years on tour. So, who is this American prospect looking up to? He reflected on the ongoing “Greatest of All Time” debate between Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal.

In 2023, after reaching his first US Open semifinal, Shelton spoke about his preferences among the Big Three. “I studied Nadal and tried to steal some secrets from him,” Shelton told the press. “But my favorite has always been Roger.”

However, he didn’t leave Djokovic behind. “In three years, he will still be in the top 5, he will still win tournaments,” he said about the Serbian star. Two years later, his prediction holds true, with Djokovic, currently ranked fifth in the world, aiming to add more titles to his already impressive collection.

Roger Federer is Shelton’s favorite player ( Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

When it comes to stats, Djokovic leads Nadal and Federer in several categories: most Grand Slams (24), most Masters 1000 titles (40), and most weeks ranked as World No. 1 (428). He is also the only man to have won all majors at least three times and completed the career Golden Slam.

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Shelton’s connection to Federer

While Federer retired in 2022, his involvement in tennis is far from over. The Swiss star is not only the owner and co-creator of the Laver Cup, but he also founded his own agency, Team8, and is a partner of sportswear brand On.

In that sense, Shelton is represented by Team8, as is Coco Gauff. The 22-year-old American is also sponsored by On. Shelton has even mentioned that Federer’s style is an inspiration for him.

Shelton is represented by Team8 (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

“I get style inspiration from different people, other athletes, and Instagram,” Shelton said in a video for On. “Roger is one of those guys who can do it all. He can do it on the court, he can do it off the court, he can do it at the Met Gala, he can do it at Wimbledon.”

Ben Shelton’s career highlights so far

Since turning professional, Shelton has made a name for himself. Notably, he reached the semifinals at both the 2025 Australian Open and 2023 US Open, showcasing his potential on the grand stage. That same year, he clinched his first title at the Japan Open, and in 2024, he won the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston, becoming the youngest champion since Andy Roddick in 2002.