The ATP calendar has rapidly moved on from the US Open, where Ben Shelton lost in the final to Alexander Zverev.
Zverev denied Shelton a maiden Grand Slam title in New York, with the US Open champion following on from his French Open success earlier in the year. Both players have already moved on from Flushing Meadows, representing their nations in the Davis Cup qualifiers.
The Asian swing now takes centre stage in the ATP schedule, but Shelton is already casting one eye towards an ATP 500 tournament in Europe, which incidentally is the final tournament of Stan Wawrinka before his retirement from tennis.
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Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz to play in Basel with Stan Wawrinka
Wawrinka will retire at the Swiss Indoors Basel, with the home favourite bowing out on home soil at the end of October. The ATP legend will be eyeing a dream finish to his glittering career, but success certainly won’t come easily given the high-quality field that is assembling in these early stages.
Along with Shelton, fellow American star Taylor Fritz has committed to the Basel tournament, along with Felix Auger-Aliassime and Arthur Fils. But also included in the star-studded entry list are Rafael Jodar, Jiri Lehecka, Holger Rune, Casper Ruud and defending champion Joao Fonseca.
It’s a phenomenal lineup at the Basel Open, and one that should attract plenty of fans to St. Jakobshalle later this year. However, the majority will be desperate for Wawrinka to go all the way at his farewell event.
The three-time Grand Slam champion has received the first wildcard for the tournament, while Holger Rune is able to enter the main draw via a protected ranking after dropping out of the ATP top 100 after a lengthy injury absence.
READ MORE: Taylor Fritz praises Alexander Zverev for doing one thing ‘so well’ throughout his career
Roger Federer dominates Basel Open winner list
Very fittingly, Swiss legend Roger Federer is the most successful player in the history of the Swiss Indoors Basel. He boasts a stunning 10 titles, having once served as a ball boy at the tournament. Fellow icons Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras and John McEnroe have also clinched the title.
Brazilian youngster Fonseca joined that impressive list last year, claiming his second career title after a final victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Fonseca will miss this year’s Asian swing, but fans should expect the rising star back in action in Switzerland.
The ATP 500 tournament will take place from 26 October to 1 November, running alongside the Erste Bank Open in Austria. World number one Jannik Sinner is confirmed for that ATP 500 event, where he will be out to defend his title.
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