(In Pictures) Ben Shelton Throws Out an Interesting Challenge to NBA Star Anthony Edwards

Ben Shelton is currently at the Swiss Indoor tournament, where he will compete alongside Rohan Bopanna in the doubles category.

(In Pictures) Ben Shelton Throws Out an Interesting Challenge to NBA Star Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards and Ben Shelton (via X/Hoop Central/The Tennis Channel/Instagram)

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Ben Shelton put out a challenge to NBA star Anthony Edwards after winning a prestigious award. The American star has played only one match since the US Open, where he was forced to retire in the fifth set during his third-round clash against French star Adrian Mannarino. He’s currently at the Swiss Indoor tournaments, participating in the doubles alongside Rohan Bopanna.

Shelton won the ‘They Got Next’ award on Thursday (October 16) at the first annual Believe That Awards ceremony, that streamed online. The event was hosted by Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards. There were over four other nominees, including football player Cam Ward and basketball players Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe.

The announcer revealed that Shelton was the winner of the award. In a video shared on Instagram, the announcer and Edward began to discuss Shelton’s impressive 150 mph serve. The American tennis star hit the notable 150 mph serve at the Indian Wells Masters in March 2025.

During the discussion, the announcer admitted that he was impressed with Shelton’s high-speed serve. But Edwards didn’t feel the same about it and he responded:

Man, I’m hitting that s*** back man.

Shelton then laughed at the statement, nodding his head before replying that he knew that Edward was going to say it. The World No.6 added that if the Timberwolves shooting guard returned his serve he would hit the ball to his chest:

I knew you were going to say something like that. I know that you’d beat me 11-0, in one on one. If you tried to return my serve, I’m hitting you in the chest. Believe that.

Shelton’s most recent singles match came in the first round of the Rolex Shanghai Masters. There he fell to David Goffin in straight sets. That was his first match since the shoulder injury he sustained at the US Open. He has not fully recovered from it but is gearing up for matches on tour as he seems to earn a place in the ATP Finals in Turin.

He had climbed into the top 5 of the ATP rankings after winning the Canadian Open and reaching the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open. The American star’s run at the two tournaments gave him a boost to earn a place in the ATP Finals. He’s currently sixth in the Live Race, but a good run from Alex de Minaur, Lorenzo Musetti, and Daniil Medvedev can see him drop out of the top 8.

Ben Shelton announces the first tournament he will play in the 2026 season

Ben Shelton has announced that he will make his fourth consecutive appearance at the Auckland Classics in January ahead of the Australian Open. The American star didn’t win a single match at the tournament this year, but it was a good preparation for him to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

Ben Shelton Canadian Open 2025
Ben Shelton (image via National Bank Open)

He will be seeking to follow the same path that helped him this year in the 2026 season. He revealed via a video posted by the tournament on X, where he shared that the event is a good preparation for the 2026 Australian Open. He added that he feels comfortable playing at the Auckland Classics:

For me, it’s been great preparation, great matches, and a place that I feel comfortable. I think that to start the year, it’s nice to be somewhere that you’re comfortable and feel like home. I enjoy playing there. I’ve played well in the Australian Open after that tournament, and it’s one that I’d like to keep coming back to.

The Auckland Classics will kick off on the 12th of January, 2026 just six days before the Australian Open, which starts on the 18th of January, 2026. However, the American star will have to compete at the Paris Masters, which starts on the 25th of October, before the next season’s tournaments.

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