Big-serving lefty is competing in Turin for the second time

Ben Shelton dug deep to clinch a Nitto ATP Finals milestone on Sunday in Turin, where he outlasted Arthur Fils in an absorbing opening-night encounter.

The third-seeded Shelton, who made his debut at the prestigious season finale in 2025, forged a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 triumph against Fils to earn his first Nitto ATP Finals match win. Playing with Juan Carlos Ferrero in his player box for the first time, Shelton struggled to maintain a stunning first-set performance but fought hard to reestablish control and claim a one-hour, 58-minute win.

“That was really intense, especially in the first set,” Shelton said. “The balls were a bit older. I don’t know that I’ve played that many rallies out there on Tour on a court this fast. So it was physical, really physical. A tough contest.

“I was breathing hard after pretty much every point, and I ‘m excited to get started in a match like that. Everything wasn’t perfect, but my overall level was good and I thought it was a great match I will be able to build on this week.”

With his victory, Shelton improved to 3-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Fils. Having arrived in Turin off the back of a championship-match run at the Rolex Paris Masters, the American will be full confidence when he continues his John McEnroe Group campaign on Tuesday against World No. 1 Alexander Zverev or Rafael Jodar.

“It means a lot,” Shelton said of his first Nitto ATP Finals win. “Especially doing it in the first match of the round robin, giving myself a little bit of momentum to move forwards is huge. All the matches are really tough here, so it can be an uphill battle if you get behind early. For me to get my first win here in front of this crowd is amazing.”

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Having already racked up a personal-best 45 tour-level wins in 2026, Shelton could hardly have given a better demonstration of his skills to his new coach Ferrero than he did in the first set against Fils. The American struck the ball with vicious power off both wings and did not face a break point to move ahead in impressive fashion.

The 22-year-old Fils, the first Frenchman to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in 10 years, showed admirable resilience to find an effective counter to Shelton’s charge. The sixth seed increasingly managed to extend the baseline rallies, and his effective variations of pace created opportunities to showcase his renowned court craft.

Fils forced Shelton into a forehand error to earn his first break of the match in the eighth game of the second set and then fended off two break points in the next game to successfully level the match. He could not maintain that momentum, however, and Shelton crucially converted his fourth break point of the second game in the decider to set himself on the path to victory.

The way Shelton closed out his win was a reminder of two of the biggest tools that Shelton’s coaches — his father Bryan Shelton and Ferrero — have to work with. Break point down when serving for the match at 5-3, 40/A, the 24-year-old sent down two huge aces before wearing Fils down with a series of heavy forehands to convert match point.

“It was awesome for me,” Shelton said on his father Bryan and Ferrero being together courtside. “Obviously my box does look a little different now. I’m super excited. I think that I have some brilliant tennis minds in my corner. Some great motivators. Some guys that are hungry and excited to be out here. We’re a motivated team, so let’s see what we can do this week and also in the future moving forward.”