Ben Shelton played college tennis at the University of Florida from 2020 to 2022, coached by his father Bryan. He is one of the few players in the men’s top 10 who took that route rather than turning professional out of high school.
The Short Version
| School | University of Florida |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 2020 to 2022, two years |
| Coach | Bryan Shelton, his father |
| 2021 | NCAA team championship as a freshman |
| 2022 | NCAA singles championship as a sophomore |
| Honors | SEC Player of the Year, ITA National Player of the Year |
| Turned pro | August 2022 |
The Freshman Year
Florida won the NCAA team championship in 2021, the first in the program’s history, with Shelton on the roster and his father as head coach. Bryan had taken the job in 2012 after winning a national title with the Georgia Tech women’s team in 2007.
The Sophomore Year
Shelton won the individual NCAA singles title in 2022 and finished the season as the top-ranked collegiate player in the country. He was named SEC Player of the Year and ITA National Player of the Year in the same season.
He turned professional that August, giving up his final two years of eligibility.
Why It Matters
The college route has become rare at the top of men’s tennis. Most players who reach a Grand Slam final left the junior ranks for the tour directly. Shelton spent two years playing team matches in front of student crowds instead, and only started playing tennis regularly at 12 after an early childhood spent on football fields.
The arrangement also gave his father two seasons of coaching him directly before the professional partnership began. Bryan left Florida in June 2023 to coach Ben full time.
Related
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The Bottom Line
Two seasons at Florida under his father: a national team title as a freshman in 2021, the NCAA singles title and national player of the year as a sophomore in 2022, then straight to the tour that August.