Ben Shelton has already shared the court with some of tennis's biggest icons—Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner. But when asked to name his favorite ATP opponent, the American rising star surprised fans by picking a different name entirely.

During a recent Q&A on his YouTube channel, Shelton didn't hesitate to single out Arthur Fils as the player he most enjoys facing. The two young talents have met three times on tour so far, building a rivalry that's quickly becoming one of the most exciting matchups among the ATP's next generation.

Shelton currently leads their head-to-head series 2-1, with wins at the 2024 Swiss Indoors and the 2023 Laver Cup. Fils claimed his lone victory at the 2024 Japan Open in a hard-fought three-set battle. Their rivalry took a brief pause when Fils missed several months due to injury, but with the Frenchman now back in strong form, another showdown later this season feels almost inevitable.

Shelton also reflected on some of his career's standout moments, including wins over Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, and Jannik Sinner. He specifically highlighted his dramatic comeback victory against Sinner at the 2023 Shanghai Masters as a match he'll never forget.

Looking beyond the ATP Tour, Shelton revealed that representing the United States at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles is one of his biggest career ambitions. "Yes, it's a big goal for me. I want to be there in 2028," he said. Shelton skipped the 2024 Olympics to focus on the North American hard-court swing, but he's already setting his sights on competing on home soil.

If he captures singles gold in 2028, Shelton would become the first American man to win Olympic gold in the Open Era since Andre Agassi, who famously achieved the feat in front of a home crowd in Atlanta back in 1996. For now, though, Shelton's focus remains on the Italian Open as he continues his climb up the rankings.