The hard-hitting Ben Shelton of the United States will get his Shanghai Masters campaign started on Friday, going up against Denis Shapovalov of Canada in the second round.
After making it to the quarterfinal round of the Japan Open, Shelton will try to make a deeper run at Shanghai Masters, one of several ATP 1000 events in the year that rewards high world ranking points and lucrative prizes. Ranked at No.16, Shelton can move up in the ladder with a better finish at this tournament.
While Shelton had the luxury of skipping the first round because of him being a seeded player, Shapovalov had to go through the eye of the needle to play in the main draw of the Shanghai Masters.
8 – Ben Shelton has reached his 8th quarterfinal of the season at the Japan Open, twice of what he managed during the 2023 season. Improve. #kinoshitajotennis | @japanopentennis pic.twitter.com/0TNFUgUMCb
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) September 27, 2024
The former world’s No.10 defeated Yu Hsiou Hsu of Taiwan 6-3 6-3 and Sho Shimabukuro of Japan 4-6 3-1 ret. to secure his place in the main draw. He then topped Lorenzo Sonego of Italy after beating him in back-to-back tiebreakers 7-6(5) 7-6(8).
Shelton is 2-0 head-to-head vs. Shapovalov, having beaten the Canadian in the third round of the Wimbledon Open 6-7(4) 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-2 and the quarterfinal of the Citi Open 7-6(5) 6-6 def. this year.
With a 20-12 record on the hard-court and a 16-4 slate in second-round matches this 2024, Shelton is poised to win this match against Shapovalov, who is 9-9 in hard-court matches this year. Our betting prediction for Ben Shelton vs. Denis Shapovalov: Back Shelton to win 2-0, +160, at Bovada.
What You Need to Know
Ben Shelton reached the QF of the Japan Open Tennis Championship.
Denis Shapovalov barged into the main draw of the Shanghai Masters as a qualifier.
Ben Shelton has a 2-0 head-to-head record vs. Denis Shapovalov
Denis Shapovalov defeated Lorenzo Sonego 7-6(5) 7-6(8) in the first round of the Shanghai Masters.
Who’s Waiting Out There for Ben Shelton?
Getting past Shapovalov will send Shelton to a third-round showdown with Arthur Fils of France, the man who eliminated him at the Japan Open and won the tournament.
Shelton will seek to avenge his 7-5 6-7(5) 7-6(2) loss to the Frenchman, who is pitted against Roberto Carballés Baena of Spain in the second round.
ben shelton was flying around the court for a second there pic.twitter.com/4EAYbvPsBC
— 🤩 (@4theluvoftennis) September 29, 2024
If he finds a way to conquer Fils this time around, Shelton will be on a collision course with former world’s No.1 and US Open champion Jannik Sinner in the first round.
