"It's almost like he's skipped a few grades" - Tracy Austin praises Ben Shelton for meteoric rise on ATP Tour, highlights his strengths

Tracy Austin heaped praise on Ben Shelton for showing rapid growth on the ATP tour and highlighted the biggest strengths in his game. The former WTA World No. 1 feels Shelton will now face a major challenge during the European claycourt swing, but expects him to learn from the experience and break into the ATP Top-30 soon.

Current World No. 39 Shelton regularly played on the Challenger Tour for the majority of the 2022 season. He rose to prominence with his performance at the 2022 Cincinnati Masters ahead of the US Open, where he beat the likes of Lorenzo Sonego and Casper Ruud en route to the third round after entering the main-draw with a wilcard and ranked No. 229 in the world.

In what was his first-ever trip outside the United States, the former college tennis star reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 Australian Open, further proving his sheer talent. As he is now one of the fastest rising stars on the ATP tour, Austin highlighted his rise and the road ahead.

"It's almost like he (Ben Shelton) has skipped a few grades, he's gone from 6th grade to high school," Tracy Austin said on the Tennis Channel.

"Because you're playing Challengers in the Fall and now all of a sudden you're going to be off to Europe for the the first time and you're going to play on red clay against the grinders. You're playing against the Mussetti's, Davidovich Fokina's."

Austin stressed that while expectations from Shelton will be much higher, he should focus on learning from the experiences during the claycourt season and aim to jump further up the rankings.

"Now the expectations are higher. The outcome? Who knows. But this is part of the process, gain that experience and become more comfortable. Break into the Top-50, the Top-30, I think he has that capability," Austin added.

Shelton, who lost to American No. 1 Taylor Fritz at Indian Wells last week, will face either Adrian Mannarino or Juncheng Shang in his Miami Open campaign opener this week.

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Tracy Austin credits Ben Shelton's father and coach Bryan for youngster's all-court game

Ben Shelton competes during Indian Wells 2023.

Tracy Austin believes Ben Shelton's huge serve and forehand are now also getting support from an improving backhand. What she likes most about the 20-year-old is that he has already developed an all-court game, and credited Shelton's father Bryan, who is also his coach for the same. Shelton has been training with his father, a former World No. 55 on the ATP tour, since the age of 12.

"He (Ben Shelton) has a huge lefty serve and the leftiness is a huge advantage. A huge forehand as well, the backhand has improved," Austin said.

"Maybe the thing that I like the most is that he already, at such a young age, has an all-court game. I would give a lot of credit to his dad Bryan for developing every area of the court. I love his demeanor, he's got enough energy," she added.

Shelton recently signed a sponsorship with sportswear company On, which is backed by Roger Federer. Shelton and WTA World No. 1 Iga Swiatek are the first two tennis athletes to represent the brand. The American recently ended his association with New Balance ahead of a new deal with On.