Rick Macci on Ben Shelton: ‘It’s Not Where You Start. It’s Where You Finish’

Ben Shelton left New York without the US Open trophy, but with something that may matter almost as much for what comes next: proof that he belongs at the very top of men’s tennis.

After reaching his first Grand Slam final and climbing to a career-high No. 4 in the world, the 23-year-old former Florida Gator has another believer in his corner — Rick Macci.

And Macci knows something about identifying what separates very good players from great ones.

The Boca Raton-based coach has trained or worked with five players who reached world No. 1 — Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Andy Roddick, Maria Sharapova and Jennifer Capriati — and has spent decades studying the technical and psychological details that determine how far elite players can go.

Photo credit: © Rolex/Jon Buckle

His assessment of Shelton starts with the obvious weapon.

Macci called Shelton’s serve one of the most explosive on the men’s tour and believes the combination of that firepower, athleticism and competitive temperament gives him staying power near the top of the game.

“With the way he competes and has weapons... he should be a permanent fixture in the top 10,” Macci told Florida Tennis.

There is still work to do. Macci believes Shelton’s “backhand can still be a little shaky,” an area that will become increasingly important as opponents dissect his game deeper into majors.

And the neighborhood Shelton has entered is unforgiving.

Photo credit: © Rolex/Jon Buckle

In Macci’s view, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev remain the benchmark at the top of the men’s game, with Alcaraz and Sinner operating at an even higher level. Breaking through that group repeatedly at the majors will be a very different assignment from simply reaching the Top 10.

Shelton has already demonstrated that the gap is hardly untouchable. At this year’s US Open, he knocked out defending champion Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal epic, then defeated fellow American Frances Tiafoe to reach his first major championship match before falling to Zverev in four sets.

The deeper Shelton gets on tennis’s biggest stages, the more comfortable he appears there.

Reflecting on the experience of competing inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, Shelton told Rolex: “Walking onto Arthur Ashe can be overwhelming, as all eyes are on you in the stadium but the more times that I’m in that situation, the more I feel able to embrace it and really enjoy it.”

Perhaps Macci’s most interesting takeaway, though, has less to do with forehands, backhands or serves.

Photo credit: ©Rolex/Antoine Couvercelle

Shelton was never the can’t-miss junior destined from childhood for the top of professional tennis. His development accelerated at the University of Florida, where he helped the Gators win the 2021 NCAA team championship and captured the 2022 NCAA singles crown before turning professional.

For Macci, that trajectory carries a message well beyond Shelton.

“It’s not where you start. It’s where you finish.”

Three years after leaving college tennis, the Florida Gator is No. 4 in the world, a US Open finalist and increasingly capable of beating anybody across the net.

And Macci believes there is more coming.

With Shelton’s competitive instincts, athleticism and that left-handed serve, Macci’s final forecast was characteristically simple: he's “only gonna get better and better.”

For the rest of the tour, that might be the part worth remembering.

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By Matt Pressman, Editor of Florida Tennis. Photo credit (top): © Rolex/Jon Buckle

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