Ben Shelton is set to be a top-four seed at Wimbledon for the first time in his Grand Slam career.
What happened?
He secured this position after Alex de Minaur's early exit from Queen's, which meant Shelton held onto his spot.
Shelton's recent performances on grass suggest he could be ready for a deep run at Wimbledon.
Why it matters for Ben Shelton
This seeding is important as it ensures he won't face Jannik Sinner until at least the semi-finals.
Sinner has beaten Shelton nine times in a row, including at Wimbledon in both 2024 and 2025.
Shelton will also avoid Alexander Zverev until the semis.
What comes next?
The Wimbledon seedings will be finalized after this week, with Sinner, Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Shelton expected to be named as the top four seeds.
Shelton's loss to Taylor Fritz may have worked out in his favor, giving him a more favorable draw.
He aims to become the first American man since Andy Roddick in 2003 to win a Grand Slam title.
Shelton is currently ranked world number five.
He reached as high as World No. 14 last year but couldn't string together consistent results on grass or hard courts.
The 37-year-old Novak Djokovic is expected back at Wimbledon, but there are questions about his fitness.
Djokovic picked up a knee injury during the French Open, which caused him to miss the grass court events in Stuttgart and Queen’s.
Shelton needed to keep pace to hold onto his top-four seed spot.
De Minaur's loss to Brandon Nakashima meant Shelton secured his position.
This is a big opportunity for Shelton to make a deep run at Wimbledon.
He has struggled against Sinner in the past, but this seeding gives him a chance to avoid him until later in the tournament.
Shelton's recent form on grass has been impressive, and he will be looking to build on that at Wimbledon.
The top four seeds are expected to be Sinner, Zverev, Auger-Aliassime, and Shelton.
These players will be looking to make a strong run at the tournament.
Shelton's seeding is a big boost to his chances of winning the title.
He will be looking to take advantage of this favorable draw and make a deep run at Wimbledon.