Ben Shelton has the huge serve and the athleticism that should work well on grass. The issue, like nearly all players, is that the courts are very much an English staple, and players aren't used to playing on them. It might take several tournaments to get used to the surface.
The American had never reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon before, but he had only played the grass-court major twice before. The 22-year-old could be the greatest hope for Americans for years to have a chance to win the major. The last American to do so was Pete Sampras in 2000.
But Shelton still has a chance this year, as does fellow American Taylor Fritz. Both are into the quarters. Shelton did it nearly the perfect Shelton way.
Mirra Andreeva and Ben Shelton move into the quarterfinals at Wimbledon 2025
He has decent touch, but if he is going to win, it will be because he out-blasted his opponent. Shelton is not going to hit 90 percent of his shots lightly, and Italian Lorenzo Sonego did his best to combat that. Still, Shelton played bigger in the bigger points and took the fourth-round match 3-6 6-1 7-6(1) 7-5.
The American will next play the winner of the Jannik Sinner and Grigor Dimitrov match in the quarters. Should Sinner face Shelton, the Italian will be favored. Should Shelton take on Dimitrov, it's an even chance for Shelton, but it will be must-watch tennis either way.
Mirra Andreeva, having the best year of her young career, also moved on to the quarters at Wimbledon for the first time. She breezed past Emma Navarro in the fourth round 6-2 6-3. While Shelton has an outside chance to win Wimbledon, Andreeva might be playing so well that she could be considered the favorite.
She is like an AI that is learning quickly and turning that information into making her better quickly. She once had issues with a player who had a lot of power, but the Russian has gotten stronger and now has a lot of power herself.
She also moves around the court exceedingly well and turns from defensive to offensive with shocking efficiency. She isn't simply ready to win Wimbledon, she is going to be a threat at every major for the foreseeable future. She will next play Belinda Bencic in the quarters on Wednesday at Wimbledon.