Ben Shelton Faces Denis Shapovalov in Shanghai Masters: Preview and Predictions

The Shanghai Masters is set to witness an exciting matchup between Ben Shelton and Denis Shapovalov in the second round, scheduled for Friday, October 4. This encounter marks the third time these two players will face each other, with their previous meetings providing plenty of drama and competitive tennis.

Head-to-Head and Recent Form

Ben Shelton, currently ranked 16th in the world, holds a 2-0 lead in the head-to-head against Denis Shapovalov. Their last meeting was at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., where Shelton won after Shapovalov was defaulted for yelling at a fan during a second-set tiebreaker. Earlier in the year, Shelton also prevailed in a five-set battle at Wimbledon.

Shelton has been in superior form, particularly on hard courts, where he has a 20-12 win-loss record in 2024. He recently lost in the quarterfinals of the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships to Arthur Fils but has shown consistent performance throughout the season, including winning the ATP Houston title and reaching at least the third round in all four Grand Slam tournaments.

Denis Shapovalov, ranked 102nd, has had a more challenging year, marked by form issues and injuries. However, he has shown signs of resurgence in Shanghai, qualifying for the main draw and securing a two-set victory over Lorenzo Sonego in the first round. Shapovalov's aggressive play and strong serving could pose a threat, but his overall record this year stands at 24-22, with a 9-9 record on hard courts.

Match Predictions

Given Shelton's current form and his past successes against Shapovalov, most predictions favor the American. Shelton's ability to perform well in Asia, highlighted by his title win in Tokyo last fall and his quarterfinal appearance in Shanghai last year, adds to his advantage. Predictions suggest that Shelton will likely win the match in either two or three sets.

The odds also reflect Shelton's dominance, with BetMGM Sportsbook listing him as the favorite at -185 odds compared to Shapovalov's +140. Shelton's strong serving, which included 14 aces in his quarterfinal loss to Arthur Fils, is another factor that could tip the balance in his favor.

Other Notable Matches in Shanghai

In addition to the Shelton vs. Shapovalov match, the Shanghai Masters will feature other intriguing encounters. Stefanos Tsitsipas, for instance, will face Kei Nishikori, with Tsitsipas expected to advance despite his current form issues. Nishikori, who is making a comeback and has shown decent form in the Asian swing, might struggle with the quick recovery needed after his three-set win over Mariano Navone.

Other matches include Felix Auger-Aliassime against Alexandre Muller and Matteo Arnaldi versus Zachary Svajda, each with their own set of predictions and analyses based on the players' recent performances and head-to-head records.

The Shanghai Masters, part of the ATP Tour Masters 1000, continues to be a significant event in the tennis calendar, attracting top players and providing a platform for rising stars like Ben Shelton to shine.

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