Ben Shelton has defended Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner after hearing suggestions that the two tennis stars are losing their dominance on the ATP Tour.
The 24-year-old American believes that both players remain among the biggest favorites for prestigious tournaments, despite having struggled with injuries during the 2026 season.
Alcaraz missed more than four months because of a wrist injury, while Sinner has not played since Wimbledon in July. Their absences have allowed other players to achieve some great results, with Alexander Zverev winning two Grand Slam titles this year.
However, Shelton disagrees with the idea that the Spaniard and the Italian are no longer dominating men’s tennis. Speaking to reporters ahead of the Swiss Indoors in Basel, the American pointed out their achievements throughout the season.
The US Open finalist also expects both players to return to their best level at the Australian Open next January. He admitted that their absence has been disappointing for tennis fans and other players.
Shelton is among the talented young players who have managed to challenge the leading names in tennis. Earlier this season, he defeated Alcaraz at the US Open after a great five-set battle, reaching his first Grand Slam final.
Although he eventually lost to Zverev, the American enjoyed his most successful season so far, winning four ATP titles and reaching a career-high ranking of world No. 4.
Shelton previously spoke about Alcaraz and Sinner
The American has never hidden his respect for the two players, even though he hopes to become one of their biggest rivals in the coming years.
In January, ahead of the Australian Open, Shelton admitted that Alcaraz and Sinner had been ahead of the other young players for quite some time. However, he believed that the situation could change as more tennis players continued improving.
