Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have dominated tennis for the past two years, with little to suggest that it won’t continue in 2026.
Sinner and Alcaraz’s incredible rivalry has seen each man win four Grand Slams across the past two seasons.
The pair are far and away the top two players in the world, with over 5000 points splitting them and Alexander Zverev in third.
Fans and pundits have wondered whether anyone can challenge the pair in the near future, but Patrick Mouratoglou has put his weight behind Ben Shelton.
Patrick Mouratoglou admires Ben Shelton’s ‘ego’
Asked by BBC Sport whether anyone could challenge Sinner and Alcaraz, Mouratoglou suggested it could be Shelton.
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“I see a lot of guys who can start to become a threat if they progress, but to say this person will be a threat next season is difficult.
“If you look at the margin those two guys have above the other players, it’s difficult to imagine. I think the next guy will have to have a huge ego if he wants to be in the mix – so it can be someone like Shelton, maybe.
“He will have to make progress but I think his confidence in himself and in his game is big enough.”
Shelton enjoyed an impressive season in 2025, which brought him his maiden Masters title at the Canadian Open.
Ben Shelton’s best performances at Grand Slams
The American is yet to reach a Grand Slam final in his career, although he had come close on two different occasions.
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Shelton reached the semi-final of the Australian Open this season, but his campaign was ended by Sinner in straight sets.
Two years prior and Shelton found himself in the same position at his home Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open.
The star could not find a way past Novak Djokovic, who defeated the American in straight sets in front of a deflated Arthur Ashe crowd.
Shelton has not made it to the final four at Wimbledon and Roland Garros, with his best performance at SW19 coming this year when he reached the quarter-finals.
He was beaten by Sinner yet again as he swept aside the American in straight sets en route to his first Wimbledon title.
Shelton has fared less well at Roland Garros, where a fourth round this year marked his best performance on the clay.
He was beaten by Alcaraz, but he did manage to take a set from the Spaniard.
