All About Ben Shelton’s Parents, Former Tennis Players Bryan and Lisa Shelton

NEED TO KNOW

• Ben Shelton’s parents are former tennis players Bryan Shelton and Lisa Shelton
• The couple also shares a daughter, Emma
• They can often be seen cheering Ben on when he competes

Tennis was always in Ben Shelton’s blood, thanks to his parents Bryan and Lisa Shelton.

The athlete is the son of two former players of the sport, Lisa and Bryan, who have been married since October 1999. They welcomed their first child, daughter Emma, on March 18, 2001, before welcoming Ben on Oct. 9, 2002.

Bryan — who peaked as a top 60 singles player in the 1990s and reached the fourth round of Wimbledon as a qualifier in 1994 — told TheNew York Times in August 2022 that “it took me a long time to get to where he’s at, and he started later than I did.”

He continued, “I think things have certainly accelerated a lot faster than I had planned or thought with Ben’s development on the court and with his maturity as well.”

In fact, Ben — who only started playing tennis regularly at age 11 after giving up his nascent career as a quarterback — didn’t even have an interest in the family sport at first. “This was the same kid who said that ‘tennis will not be my sport’ when he was younger,” Bryan revealed, adding that “he definitely came to it on his own” without any “pressure” from his brood.

Now, his parents are cheering him on as he competes in his sixth US Open. Here’s everything to know about Ben Shelton’s parents, Bryan and Lisa.

Bryan is a retired professional tennis player

Bryan is a former professional tennis player who spent nine seasons on the ATP Tour before retiring after the US Open in 1997. A few of his career highlights include clinching two singles titles and a pair of doubles titles.

The Alabama native also competed in multiple Grand Slam tournaments. Bryan is a seven-time US Open participant, six-time Wimbledon participant, six-time Australian Open participant and a four-time French Open participant.

In 1993, he reached the finals of the French Open in mixed doubles with partner Lori McNeil. That same year, the two were semifinalists in mixed doubles at Wimbledon. In 1994, Bryan reached the round of 16 in singles at Wimbledon.

Prior to the start of his professional tennis career, Bryan played the sport at Georgia Tech, where he was an All-American and four-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, leading the school to record-breaking wins in 1988.

Bryan snagged 101 victories, ranking second on the Jackets’ career singles wins list. He was inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993, the Georgia Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

Bryan is a former collegiate tennis coach

Prior to serving as head coach of the women’s program for 13 seasons at his alma mater, Georgia Tech, Bryan spent one season as a national coach with the United States Tennis Association and worked with top juniors such as Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish and Bobby Reynolds.

In June 2012, Bryan was named the head tennis coach at the University of Florida. In fact, Ben was coached by his father during the two seasons he played as a Florida Gator. While there, he accomplished two major feats: winning the national title in 2021 for Florida as a freshman against Baylor and winning the individual title the following spring.

“I saw that my dad was a college coach and knew a lot about the game,” Ben told TheNew York Timesin August 2022. “My chances of going far in the sport and having that resource was definitely going to be helpful.”

Over a decade after his tenure in Gainesville began, he stepped down from collegiate coaching in June 2023. Amid his various accomplishments throughout his Florida coaching career, he became the fourth head coach in the program’s history to win 200 matches.

Bryan coaches Ben full-time

Though he stepped down from coaching collegiate tennis in June 2023, Bryan didn’t step away from the sport altogether. In fact, he’s continuing his duties as a coach for his son full-time.

Ben posted a tribute to his Instagram, honoring his dad after his retirement. “My dad retired from collegiate coaching today. Congrats on everything you’ve accomplished in your 24 years out there,” the pro tennis player began.

“This isn’t a career that’s defined by championships and accolades, but by the people impacted and lives changed. You showed up to work every day and gave a perfect effort. You did things with character and humility no matter the situation,” he continued.

“You’ve kept your faith wherever your life has taken you, and always put your family first. There isn’t a better role model for young men trying to find their way in life. The Gator Nation may have suffered a blow with this one, but we always bounce back. 🧡💙.”

Ben concluded, “That being said, the dream team is back together baby‼️ Can’t wait to have you out on tour with me, and see what we can accomplish together 🤞🏽🐐.”

In January 2025, Ben reached the Australian Open semifinals with his dad in his corner. After the tennis star’s first career victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, the on-court interviewer asked Ben about the last time he beat Bryan on the tennis court.

“[My dad] would never let me play him, I don’t think he ever will let me play him,” Ben joked. “He probably still thinks he can beat me.”

Bryan opened up about coaching his son in his younger years in an interview with Youth Inc. in January 2025, sharing how he’d handle Ben experiencing a tough loss. Win or lose, Bryan said he just wanted to give him time to process.

“Try to treat the two pretty much the same,” he said. “You know, don’t get too worried or uptight if they lost and don’t get too crazy if they won a match, you know? Kind of respond to things as they bring them up first.”

Lisa was an accomplished junior tennis player

Ben’s mom, Lisa, was also an accomplished tennis player — however, the Indiana native peaked at the junior level.

Currently, Lisa works as a realtor for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Thomas Group in Gainesville, Fla.

Lisa is the sister of a highly-ranked tennis player

Hailing from a tennis family herself, Lisa — who is one of eight siblings — is the sister of the late Todd Witsken. The tennis player, who died in May 1998 at 24, per The New York Times, was a world No. 4 doubles and No. 43 singles player who also was a three-time all-American at the University of Southern California.

“We kid around, like which genes is Ben playing with, the Shelton genes or the Witsken genes?” Bryan told The New York Times. “He’s got some good blood running through him, that’s for sure.”

Bryan and Lisa have two kids

In addition to Ben, Bryan and Lisa are the parents of daughter Emma. The older of the two siblings, Emma, is also a former tennis player.

The Gainesville native also played at the University of Florida after signing with the Gators in June 2021 following her transfer from South Carolina.

Emma graduated from the University of Florida in May 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance and now works at Morgan Stanley as a virtual engagement associate, per LinkedIn.

In July 2025, Emma supported her brother at Wimbledon. When Ben made it past the third round, the tennis star made a public plea to Morgan Stanley to give his sister more time off to stay and watch him compete for the title.

“My sister’s here. She’s been here for every match I’ve played. She’s been the lucky charm. But she has work back in the U.S. starting Monday. She works for Morgan Stanley,” Ben said in a post-match interview.

“If any of you all have some [connections] and can get her a couple extra days off so she can [stay and] we can keep this rolling, that’d be great,” he continued.

Hours later, Emma announced on Instagram that Morgan Stanley had granted her an extra week of vacation time.

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