Ben Shelton on Iga Swiatek’s wait for custom shoes: “Your movement is your biggest weapon”

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NEW YORK—American Ben Shelton stepped into the third round of the US Open for the first time on Wednesday, helped along by an ailing Dominic Thiem’s retirement. The 20-year-old recorded his best result at his home Grand Slam in style, too—with the On Running ambassador kitted out from head to toe in the Roger Federer-backed Swiss sportswear brand’s apparel and shoes.

Shelton competes wearing a customized version of The Roger Pro shoe, having switched from New Balance FuelCell 996 v4.5 back in March as a part of his massive head-to-toe deal with On alongside Iga Swiatek.

Initially known for making the comfiest running shoes, On recently has expanded its repertoire to include tennis, trail and hiking shoes—with its performance tennis shoe created in collaboration with Federer himself.

“I think that was something for me, that I knew a lot of the things that I wanted with my shoe,” Shelton said of making the switch from New Balance to On. “It wasn't too complicated.

“I think since my career has been shorter and I haven't played as many matches, I've still been growing the last couple years, I didn't really have a shoe that I loved or was comfortable with.

“Finding a shoe that worked for me, even being able to build a shoe that catered to my needs, it was pretty easy to find something that I liked.”

Shelton joined the likes of world No. 1 Swiatek and 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez in taking On to the tennis court, with both WTA players moving from Asics. But while Fernandez, who wears Lululemon apparel with The Roger Pro shoe, seems to have made a seamless switch, Swiatek is still waiting to change from her previous Gel-Resolution 9 shoes.

The four-time Grand Slam winner recently revealed that On is working on her own custom shoe, with a focus on optimizing her movement and her particular “style of running”. That shoe is still in the testing stages and is set for release “very, very soon”.

“When you're winning multiple Grand Slams on different surfaces, competing at the highest level—your movement is your biggest weapon, for someone like Iga,” Shelton explained.

“I think it would probably be a little bit more difficult than me, who hadn't played before on clay, hadn't played before on grass. The only thing I had to go off of was the On shoe. I think it was a lot easier for me to adjust.

“But I'm sure that she'll figure it out and be in the shoe soon.”

Competing in his first full ATP Tour season, the 20-year-old started the year with a run to the Australian Open quarterfinals—a breakthrough result in his first time traveling outside of the United States. But he's struggled to string together victories since, failing to win back-to-back ATP level matches until arriving in Flushing Meadows.

The American lefty defeated Thiem via retirement 7-6 (1), 1-0 (ret.) in the second round, backing up his opening win over Pedro Cachin. Shelton will take on Aslan Karatsev next on Friday.