Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are overwhelming favourites to win the ATP Finals, but there will be no easy games at the year-end tournament.
Alcaraz’s fitness has been questioned, while Sinner too, has not looked at full health despite his dominance at the Vienna Open and Paris Masters.
Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal from the tournament has opened up the tournament further, with Lorenzo Musetti replacing the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Despite Alcaraz and Sinner being the clear frontrunners for the trophy, other players could upset the applecart in Turin.
Greg Rusedski tips Ben Shelton for success at the ATP Finals
Greg Rusedski has put his weight behind Ben Shelton ahead of the ATP Finals, describing him as a ‘dark horse’.
Shelton has enjoyed a successful year in 2025, which resulted in his first Masters title at the Canadian Open.
Speaking on the Inside-In Tennis podcast, Rusedski revealed: “For me, he’s the most exciting American prospect. I know it’s strange to say the word prospect when you’re in the top eight in the world, but we’re talking about trying to win majors.
“If I had to pick an American right now who I think could possibly win a major in the men’s game, he’d be my top pick because I still think he hasn’t reached his ceiling.
“I think technically there’s still areas on the backhand that can get better. His court position can get better at times. His shot selection at the bigger moments.
“The rawness is what makes him scary for the big guys. And when you’ve got a lefty cannon like he does, you know, he can take control of things. And that’s where I still see there’s room for improvement.”
Rusedski then tipped the American for a successful ATP Finals in his maiden year in the competition.
He added: “For me, he’s the dark horse for the event. Yes, Sinner and Alcaraz everybody’s expecting for the finals, but he’s the guy when he’s healthy, you just don’t want to play.
Shelton has been drawn in the Bjorn Borg group with Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Ben Shelton faces a mammoth task at the ATP Finals
Shelton might be Rusedski’s pick as a ‘dark horse’ for the ATP Finals, but he will need to massively change his head-to-head record against his opponents if he wants to succeed at the tournament.
The American has picked up just one win against the three players he will play at the ATP Finals, and that came all the way back in 2023.
| Ben Shelton’s opponents at the ATP Finals opponents | Head-to-head record |
| Felix Auger Aliassime | 0-1 |
| Alexander Zverev | 0-4 |
| Jannik Sinner | 1-7 |
Shelton beat Sinner at the Shanghai Masters in 2023, which is the only time the American has managed to take a set off the world number one.
The 23-year-old has only taken one set off Zverev in their four matches together, which came at the Cincinnati Open in 2024.
Auger-Aliassime’s sole win over Shelton came at Roland Garros, where the Canadian swept the American aside in straight sets.
