A third career clash between Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton is set to take place in the fourth round of Roland Garros.
The Spaniard leads the head-to-head 2-0, sealing victories against the American at the Laver Cup last season and the Canadian Open in 2023.
Alcaraz is one of the heavy favourites at the French Open, and with three victories under his belt in Paris, he now faces his biggest task yet.
Shelton has only played two matches at the tournament so far, after Hugo Gaston withdrew from his second-round match with the world number 13.
In round one, Shelton was taken to a fifth set by Lorenzo Sonego, but he ultimately got the job done and earned a more comfortable victory in his straight sets win over Matteo Gigante in the third round.
The two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist spoke on his upcoming bout with the defending champion ahead of the contest and how he plans to prepare for it.
Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty ImagesBen Shelton says how he feels about playing Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros
Speaking on TNT Sports, Shelton said of his fourth-round meeting with Alcaraz: “I am excited just thinking about it. I think he’s up two sets to love [at the time of recording].
“It’s probably a runaway train at this point, but I don’t want to count anyone out. I would be excited regardless of who I play.
“But to play the defending champion here on Chatrier, kind of my first breakout moment, you could say at Roland Garros, it is really exciting.
“It would mean a lot for me to be in that and feel that. Like Sinner said a couple of weeks ago, him being the best clay court player in the world right now and having the opportunity to compete against him and give my best and go for it as I always do and also learn some things at the same time from a great clay courter.
“I think that is something that I try to do every time I am on the court with a great clay court player, pick up a few things from them and try to learn.”
Ben Shelton says what he will do before his match with Carlos Alcaraz
Explaining how he will prepare for the match with the four-time Grand Slam champion, Shelton said: “I think business as usual.
“I have my formula down pretty well for the off days at slams at this point. Before the last match, it was a little different having four or five days off. That is kind of unheard of.
“I am used to it at this point. I think it will be the same as every off day, practicing for an hour or an hour and a half, feeling good, getting treatment and trying to go to sleep early and stay off the phone.”
Shelton is in pursuit of his first title in 2025, having suffered a near miss in the final of the Munich Open, where he lost to Alexander Zverev.