Acapulco, February 21 – Ben Shelton will not compete in this year's Mexican Open, with tournament organizers confirming that the American has decided to withdraw in order to recover physically.
Ranked No. 9 in the ATP rankings, Shelton has made three previous appearances in Acapulco. His deepest run came in 2024, when he advanced to the quarter-finals before losing in a three-set match to Casper Ruud. Officials in Acapulco stated that Shelton has been experiencing quad discomfort, which led to his withdrawal from the Mexican tournament.
The 23-year-old has had a successful start to his 2026 season. He reached the quarter-finals in Auckland and again at the Australian Open, before winning the title in Dallas. He currently has a 10-2 record for the season.
Shelton won a hard-fought match against Taylor Fritz, saving three championship points in the deciding game to claim his second ATP 500 title.
With this victory, Shelton improved his head-to-head record against Fritz to 2-1. Since the beginning of 2025, Shelton has won 11 of his 15 deciding-set matches, including nine wins from a set down, according to ATP reports.
"It feels amazing. I'm grateful to God for helping me win this tournament despite all the challenges I faced. I'm also grateful to have played five matches here with these amazing crowds. The energy was incredible," Shelton said after the win.
"I had to fight until the very end. Fritz was playing very well, and I was struggling to keep up. I tried to be a determined competitor, and I ultimately came out on top. I think this is a testament to the hard work me and my team put in," he added.
