A Partnership Just Getting Started
Juan Carlos Ferrero and Ben Shelton only confirmed their coaching partnership in October, and the ATP Finals in Turin marks the very first time the former world No. 1 is working courtside with the young American. Shelton has been drawn into a group featuring Alexander Zverev, Arthur Fils, and Rafael Jodar, and reaching the knockout rounds for the first time in his career is the immediate goal. Once the season-ending tournament concludes, Ferrero has mapped out a focused three-week training block in Florida, calling Shelton "hungry to improve" and expressing genuine excitement about getting to work. Bryan Shelton, Ben's father and long-time coach, will remain part of the setup, meaning the challenge will be integrating Ferrero smoothly into an already close-knit team.
Building on a Landmark 2026 Season
Shelton arrives at the ATP Finals off the back of his best year on tour. He claimed the Canadian Open Masters title and reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open. Add victories at Dallas, Munich, and Stuttgart, and Shelton becomes one of the rare players to win titles on hard courts, clay, and grass in a single season. Those results have pushed him to a career-high world No. 4 ranking, and with up to 1,500 ranking points available at the ATP Finals, a deep run in Turin could bring him within range of Carlos Alcaraz at No. 3. Alcaraz leads their overall head-to-head 4-1, including a Paris Masters final victory, though Shelton did beat him in the US Open quarterfinals this year. With Ferrero providing fresh tactical input ahead of 2027, Shelton will be desperate to close that gap. TennisDraw users have been tracking the Shelton-Alcaraz rivalry closely, with plenty of bracket picks already leaning on Shelton to go deep in Turin.
