Have you ever wondered who’s currently leading the chart as the hottest guy on the ATP tour? Some might say ‘Tommy Paul’, others might throw ‘Taylor Fritz’ into the mix, but if you ask me, I’d go with Matteo Berrettini; after all, Italians always bring their “A-game” for looks! And as reports suggest, “Women all over the world agree that Italian men are hot.” It could be the impeccable grooming of Italian men, or perhaps it’s their effortless nonchalance that makes them so attractive. The “Nothing Major” podcast recently had some fun ranking the “hottest guy” on tour, and Ben Shelton, of course, had some hilarious commentary on the subject!

In the podcast episode, that aired on February 11th, tennis stars like Sam Querrey, John Isner, Jack Sock, and Steve Johnson covered a variety of hot topics, including a hard pass on European indoor tournaments to Alcaraz’s Rotterdam glory and some unexpected “MMA moments” at the Davis Cup. But then, the conversation took an unexpected turn: who is the hottest guy on the current tour? Naturally, all four had different opinions. And it was hilarious, to say the least!

Fast forward three days later, and the Instagram page of ‘Nothing Major Show’ posted a bracket with the caption “Stay tuned for updates on Round of 16 voting. #NothingMajor”. And guess who chimed in with his opinion? Ben Shelton, of course! His reaction? “If I get thru first round, I’m pulling out. Dont want no smoke with Matteo 😂” he added. But why is Ben intimidated by the Italians’ hotness in the first place?

Well, apart from playing in the Wimbledon final in 2021 and becoming the first Italian to reach the QFs or better of all majors, Matteo Berrettini has long been recognized for his fashion and undeniable charm. Take his Milan runway appearance last September, for instance, where he showcased a collection featuring muted colors, relaxed silhouettes, ‘draped suit jackets’, and utilitarian open bags.

“Sometimes just playing, playing, playing is… not boring, but it’s nice to do other stuff and other things,” he added last July about his fashion habits. Or consider his very recent photoshoot with Boss that aired 3 days ago, where he posed in black underwear to promote his sponsor Hugo Boss.

Perhaps Berrettini is well aware of his reputation as a handsome man. Back in June 2024 at Wimbledon, when asked about his looks, he responded with a confident and charmingly witty acknowledgment.

“Why is Matteo Berrettini so handsome? Well, I think there are some good Brazilian genes in me (reference to mother family), then I am also Italian and let’s say that I didn’t do anything, it’s a gift that my family gave me. It’s embarrassing to talk about it. I am one of the most messy people on the planet and I struggle to carry an item with me all the time. The only thing I always have here is the necklace, my mother gave it to me and I always wear it. When you go down the field I take it out and always put it on, it’s kind of my ritual” he added.

While Ben Shelton, 22, offered his usual witty take on the “hottest guy” discussion, he undoubtedly knows he needs to improve his game after a disappointing showing at the Dallas Open.

Ben Shelton finding solace in gym workout sessions after his disappointing Dallas Open exit

After an R16 exit at the ASB Classic, the No, 14 tennis player started his AO campaign with a bang. He defeated the likes of Brandon Nakashima, Pablo Carreño Busta, Gael Monfils (walkover), two Italians, Lorenzo Musetti, and Lorenzo Sonego to set a semis clash against another Italian Jannik Sinner. However, he was handed a reality check, as he was beaten in three straight sets: 6-7 (2-7), 6-21, 6-2.

“Obviously you’re playing the No. 1 player in the world, the chances, the windows are always small,” said Ben Shelton after a heartbreaking loss. “I thought I did some things well out there today. I’ll have to look at the statistics after the match. Probably one of my worst serving days in this tournament so far, which is disappointing, now being six matches into the tournament,” he added.

However, coming from an SF loss, he also ended his Dallas Open tournament in R16, losing to Spanish Jaume Munar in a shocking two-straight-set loss. However, Shelton recently shared an intense gym clip on his Instagram story, where he was performing newly learned tricks, including shoulder presses, during a training session. 

Do you think Ben Shelton can overcome his new season hurdles and win a trophy in his next tournament? Share your thoughts below!