Ben Shelton continues his impressive run at the Indian Wells Masters 1000. On Wednesday, he defeated fellow American Brandon Nakashima, securing a remarkable achievement for U.S. tennis that hadn’t been seen since the days of Andy Roddick.
After eliminating Mariano Navone and Karen Khachanov in the opening rounds of the tournament, Ben faced Nakashima in the Round of 16. He won in commanding fashion, 7-6, 6-1, earning a spot in the quarterfinals. At just 22 years of age, Shelton became the youngest American player to reach the Indian Wells quarterfinals in the past two decades.
The last time an American achieved this feat was in the 2004 edition, when Andy Roddick, then 21 years old, reached the quarterfinals after defeating Jean-Michel Gambill, Marat Safin, and Nicolas Escude. Roddick was ultimately defeated by Tim Henman in three sets.
Shelton reflects on his performance
Following his victory over Brandon Nakashima, Ben Shelton addressed the media and shared his thoughts on the match. “For me, the second set was outstanding. Whenever you can get a two-break win in a set against a server like him, it’s really encouraging for where my level is at,” he said, according to the official ATP Tour website.
Ben Shelton of the United States reacts during a straight set win over Karen Khachanov of Russia at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 10, 2025 in Indian Wells, California.
“I am pleased with my performance today. I think there are things I am trying to add into my game each week, and I am trying to implement them this week,” Shelton continued. “Sometimes things don’t work all the time. I make execution mistakes. I feel my intent has been really good this week, and that has been a huge part of my success.”
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What’s next for Shelton at Indian Wells?
Currently ranked 12th in the ATP rankings, Ben Shelton knows that the points he earns at Indian Wells will bring him closer to his goal of breaking into the top ten for the first time in his professional career. In the quarterfinals, he will face the winner between Taylor Fritz and Jack Draper.
“I feel confident. It is a big goal for me to keep improving and keep going deeper in the big events,” Shelton said. “I had some success at Slams, and Masters events are a big goal for me this year because there are so many throughout the year and they are high stakes. I am pleased to be in another quarterfinal, but I am searching for more.”
