Eliminated from ATP Finals, Ben Shelton ranks his 2025 season "8 out of 10"

Though his debut at the year-end championships wasn't what he hoped for, American Ben Shelton says there's still "a lot of things to be happy about" in 2025.

Read more: Felix Auger-Aliassime clinches “rollercoaster” comeback vs. Ben Shelton at ATP Finals

The left-hander dropped to 0-2 in round-robin play in Turin with a three-set loss to Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Bjorn Borg Group on Wednesday, despite being two points from the win in the second-set tiebreaker. That, coupled with Jannik Sinner's later win over Alexander Zverev, confirmed that the winner of the remaining round-robin match between Auger-Aliassime and Zverev will qualify alongside Sinner for the knockout rounds.

While his season will officially end after playing Sinner on Friday, Shelton's banner year included a second Grand Slam semifinal at the Australian Open, a first ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto, and a Top 5 ranking—even though his summer surge flamed out some by the fall due to a left shoulder injury sustained at the US Open.

It's a combination that has the former University of Florida Gator feeling "proud."

Q. Season's not over yet. Still one match. ... How would you rate this 2025 season from 1 to 10? Also, is there one thing for the next season you want to improve, something that you will work on? What would you pick?

BEN SHELTON: Yeah, I guess if I rated it 1 to 10, maybe an 8 out of 10, 7 or 8. I made huge improvements and strides from the year before.

What I've done kind of post US Open I haven't been happy with. But the rhythm that I found in the first three-quarters of the year was really good.

I'm a guy that I get into a really good rhythm when I'm playing a lot of matches. I had a lot of clarity this summer on how to play: shot tolerance, what shots to play at certain times. Had a lot of clarity on what my identity was on the court, how I was going to win, my winning formula. Still searching for that a little bit right now.

These last four tournaments of the year - Shanghai, Basel, Paris, here - have been more difficult for me trying to find that 'wow' feeling that all the guys that I have played have been in form and playing great tennis, competing well. Just certain things that feel very off that at this point of the year it's, like, can't be happening.

For me this week, it's been my forehand, which usually is a money shot for me, money-maker. First ball after the serve, things that have been a little off that make it disappointing.

A lot of things to be happy about this season.

By cracking the Top 5 in the ATP rankings for the first time on Nov. 10, Shelton became just the third southpaw to reach the ATP's Top 5 this century after Rafael Nadal and Jack Draper.

"For me it's just go[ing] back to work regardless of how things end here," he added. "Be proud about the season that I had and the things that I accomplished. Let the things sting that I wasn't able to accomplish and that I fell short on. Just be motivation for me for next year."