Shelton and Eubanks play the BOSS OPEN
The field of participants at the BOSS OPEN is getting more and more top-class! For example, 21-year-old Ben Shelton, one of the hottest "future stocks" on the ATP Tour, will make his debut in Stuttgart this year. Christopher Eubanks, another American who impressively demonstrated his qualities on grass last season by winning the tournament on Mallorca and reaching the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, will also be coming to the Weissenhof.
Ben Shelton's rise can certainly be described as meteoric. The son of former US pro Bryan Shelton, who has won two tournaments and reached 55th place in the world rankings, only played tournaments in his home country of the USA until the end of 2022, but managed the feat of breaking into the top 100 in the ATP rankings regardless. Shelton finally entered the international spotlight when he reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January 2023.
The left-hander experienced another stellar Grand Slam moment at last year's US Open in New York, where he reached his first semi-final at one of the four majors. Shelton also made headlines in New York with his hard-hitting serves, which he "hammered" over the net at speeds of up to 239 kilometers per hour - setting a speed record at Flushing Meadows in the process. Roger Federer is the young star's most prominent supporter. At the BOSS OPEN, the current world number 17 could follow in the footsteps of the "maestro", who triumphed at Stuttgart's Weissenhof in 2018.
"I've already heard a lot of positive things about the BOSS OPEN, so I'm excited to see what awaits me there. The first tournament of the season on grass is always a special challenge, but at the same time a perfect opportunity to get in shape for the Grand Slam tournament in Wimbledon. I'm looking forward to playing in Stuttgart for the first time this year," said Ben Shelton, who won his first ATP tournament in Tokyo in October 2023.
Christopher Eubanks experienced a great moment on grass in June last year when he won his first title on the ATP Tour in Mallorca. Eubanks had to overcome some anxious moments on the way there when he had to fend off no fewer than five match points in the semi-finals against South African Lloyd Harris. "Grass is my best friend now," Eubanks had said at the award ceremony on Mallorca the previous year. This friendship was deepened even further at Wimbledon, where the 2.01-meter man sensationally stormed through to the quarter-finals and also defeated the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas on his successful run there.
In addition to Ben Shelton and Christopher Eubanks, the two top German players Alexander Zverev and Jan-Lennard Struff as well as defending champion Frances Tiafoe (USA) have already confirmed their participation in this year's BOSS OPEN. "Ben Shelton, one of the most talented players on the ATP Tour, will be playing at Weissenhof for the first time this year. Christopher Eubanks has also discovered his love of grass court tennis with his successes in Mallorca and Wimbledon last year. We are convinced that the line-up with the two currently strongest players from Germany and an attractive US trio will be very popular with the Stuttgart audience," says Tournament Director Edwin Weindorfer.