Match Preview
Shelton: ‘It was a tough little stretch for me’ at Indian Wells, ready for Miami
American had the flu in California
March 18, 2026
ATP Tour
Ben Shelton is 11-3 on the year, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
By Sam Jacot
Last week at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Ben Shelton faced a setback when he suffered a third-round defeat to Learner Tien while battling the flu. Known for his explosive energy on court, the lefty was visibly flat throughout his three-set loss.
Ten days later, the No. 9 player in the PIF ATP Rankings is preparing to take the court at the Miami Open presented by Itau. But has he fully recovered?
“I am feeling good,” Shelton told ATP Media in Miami. “I wasn’t in Indian Wells. It was a tough little stretch for me. It is not easy being sick. When the season is long it doesn’t slow down for you. It was unfortunate timing. Indian Wells is a great tournament but I am excited to be healthy for Miami and hopefully I can make something happen.”
Reflecting on his time in California, Shelton described the ordeal.
“I was waking up every morning and felt like I couldn’t stand and didn’t have any energy,” said Shelton, who did defeat Reilly Opelka in his opening match. “I was just trying to get some free points on my serve. Each day I woke up and was hoping I would feel a bit better but I didn’t. I couldn’t move too much, so I just tried to keep the points short.”
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Over the past 10 days, Shelton has dedicated himself to recovery, aiming to be fully fit and firing for the second ATP Masters 1000 event of the season.
“Once you have gotten over it, it is [about] pushing yourself. Time isn’t your friend on a quick turnaround like this,” Shelton said. “You have got to get ready as quickly as possible. That is pushing yourself on court and taking the time to up the intensity to get back to the level of play that you are at before. Fitness is the most important.”
Shelton will make his fourth appearance in Miami, where he holds a 1-3 record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Statistically, it’s his least successful hard-court Masters 1000 event.
“I think when I first came on Tour I didn’t love the fast courts,” Shelton said when talking about his record in Miami. “I didn’t feel I had time to really do what I wanted to do. The longer I have been out here, the more I have enjoyed playing on fast courts, like Dallas a few weeks ago. The lower bounce, ball shooting through. That was something even six months ago I was struggling with but I feel a lot more comfortable now and hopefully I can make a run here as I think the conditions suit me really well.”
Shelton will play Matteo Arnaldi or Alexander Shevchenko in his opening match. The 23-year-old has enjoyed success in 2026, lifting the trophy at the ATP 500 event in Dallas and reaching the quarter-finals at the Australian Open.