Ben Shelton will become the top-ranked American man for the first time in his career when the new ATP rankings come out next Monday.
Shelton clinched the spot when compatriot Taylor Fritz lost to Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-4 in round one of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on Sunday. Fritz, currently No. 13 in the world, was defending semifinal points in Monte-Carlo (lost to eventual champion Andrey Rublev 5-7, 6-1, 6-3).
Despite not playing this week in Monte-Carlo, Shelton is projected to reach No. 13 next week and he is guaranteed to pass Fritz regardless of any other results. The 21-year-old is coming off a title at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship, where he triumphed over another American–Frances Tiafoe–on Sunday via a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 decision.
Shelton’s points haul, which currently has him in the 14th spot, also stems from a semifinal run at the 2023 U.S. Open and an ATP 500 title last fall in Tokyo.
Musetti vs. Fritz was a first-round showdown between two players who excelled in Monte-Carlo last spring. In addition to Fritz’s semifinal performance, Musetti advanced to the quarterfinals after upsetting Novak Djokovic. The Italian will face Arthur Fils in the second round on Tuesday.
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