Shelton's Concern for 'Friends Stuck Over There' Amid Travel Chaos Before Indian Wells

Ben Shelton Opens Up on Travel Disruptions from Geopolitical Tensions Ahead of Indian Wells Debut

© Photo par Marco BERTORELLO AFP

Arthur Millot

le 05/03/2026 à 18h23

2 min to read

Medvedev Daniil Rublev Andrey Shelton Ben

In recent days, a more serious topic has taken center stage in professional tennis locker rooms: the travel difficulties faced by some players after tournaments in the Middle East.

The unstable geopolitical context has indeed disrupted several travel itineraries on the ATP Tour, particularly after the Dubai tournament.

Among the affected players, Daniil Medvedev, the recent champion in Dubai, and Andrey Rublev, a semifinalist, had to deal with unexpected logistical complications.

"It's Terrible to Think About"

For Shelton, these situations brutally remind us that tennis never operates entirely in isolation from the world.

"During the last tour, I had friends playing in Mexico in a region marked by conflicts, others in the Middle East... and some who were even stuck there.

It's terrible to think about. We talk about it all the time, and we pray for all the people and families affected," the American shared in a press conference.

A Significant Success in Dallas

Despite these concerns, Shelton arrives at Indian Wells riding a very positive momentum.

At 23 years old, the American just won the Dallas tournament, a victory achieved after a series of extremely tight matches.

Far from being exhausted by these battles, Shelton asserts that these high-pressure moments have strengthened his confidence.

"It gives you a huge amount of confidence to pull through in tough moments. I played my best tennis when my back was against the wall," he explains.

Shelton also emphasizes a reality often unknown to the general public.

"The days where everything goes perfectly, where you break serve without being broken and win easily... they are much rarer than fans imagine."

At Indian Wells, Shelton will enter directly into the second round, where a duel against his compatriot Reilly Opelka awaits him.