Ben Shelton's route into professional tennis included the demands of a college team. At the University of Florida, he played under head coach Bryan Shelton, his father. In May 2022, he won the NCAA men's singles championship after ten matches across the team and individual competitions. He credited the program's preparation for helping him withstand a demanding tournament.
The singles final required a recovery. August Holmgren of San Diego won the opening set before Shelton took the next two, completing a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory. He finished the college season with a 37-5 singles record. Teammate Sam Riffice, the previous year's NCAA champion, was among those supporting him at the final.
That August, Shelton announced he would turn professional, giving up two remaining seasons of college eligibility. He had recently defeated Casper Ruud in Cincinnati, but told Florida's writer that readiness as a player and person mattered more to his decision than one result. Leaving also meant separating from a team whose relationships he valued. In the same interview, Shelton ranked the experience of winning a team championship above his individual college title.
Professional coaching support also extended beyond his family. The USTA records working with Shelton from age 15 and identifies Dean Goldfine as his coach during his first professional year. In April 2024, Shelton defeated Frances Tiafoe in Houston in a match the USTA described as the Open Era's first ATP Tour singles final between two Black Americans. During the presentation, Shelton praised Tiafoe's example for younger players of color. Houston was his second tour title and his first on clay.
Another milestone followed in August 2025, when Shelton defeated Karen Khachanov in Toronto to win his first Masters 1000 title. He recovered from losing the opening set and won the deciding tiebreak.
