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Read this Ben Shelton Australian Open 2023 preview before betting on his next match in the Round of 16.
Ben Shelton Australian Open 2023 Odds
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Twenty-year-old Ben Shelton is playing in just the second Grand Slam of his career, and yet is making a big splash already.
Beginning the tournament as an enormous underdog, the American has already improved his odds drastically. Currently, Shelton is sitting at 50/1 (51.00) to win the Australian Open 2023—still long odds, but much better now that he’s strung together four impressive wins over China’s Zhizhen Zhang, qualifier Nicolas Jarry, home hope Alexei Popyrin and most recently compatriot J.J. Wolf.
This year is just the second season that Shelton has played professionally, after he debuted in 2022. Tennis fans will remember his memorable debut on the ATP Tour, where he sent Lorenzo Sonego and Casper Ruud packing in consecutive matches to make the Round of 16 at the Cincinnati Masters. These wins landed him a wildcard at the US Open, where he lost his opener in five sets.
Ranked No.89 in the world, the American has out-hit his opponents to barrel his way through to the quarterfinals in the Australian Open 2023. Now, Shelton is suddenly looking at an opening in the draw which could offer the 20-year-old a deep run in this Australian Open 2023. Here’s a look at how Shelton’s latest match unfolded, and what’s next for the American at the Australian Open.
Ben Shelton Australian Open 2023 Last Match
While Shelton’s wins over Zhang in his opener, Jarry in the second round and Popyrin in the third were impressive, his latest match took things to another level.
After winning in straight set across the second and third rounds, Shelton was again pushed to five sets, having done so in the first round as well. This time it was fellow countryman J.J. Wolf who took him the distance, with Shelton gritting out a victory 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-2 in just under four hours. Again, Shelton was impressive on serve, winning 82% and serving up 23 aces to go with his 64-41 winner to unforced error ratio.
This match will do two things to Shelton: 1) Give him confidence that he can win tight matches on the biggest stage, and 2) Severely test his fitness, as he’ll head into the quarterfinals having played two five setters already in the tournament.
Ben Shelton Australian Open 2023 Next Match
Next up, Shelton faces another young American in the form of Tommy Paul.
Paul is a few years Shelton’s senior, and much higher in the rankings at No 35 in the world. The 25-year-old impressed yesterday by knocking out the 24th seed Roberto Bautista Agut—the second Spanish seed Paul has defeated this Australian Open after overcoming Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the second round too.
The two have never met before on the ATP Tour, despite being countrymen.
Ben Shelton Australian Open 2023 Prediction
Shelton is young, hungry and talented. The plethora of upsets in this year’s Australian Open have given the 20-year-old a prime opportunity to go deep in a Grand Slam so early in his career.
We say Shelton will win this one against Paul, due to the American’s ability to lean on his serve for shorter points. He’ll be running on fumes though, and will likely need to play another three hour plus match to overcome Paul. While Shelton should progress to the semifinals, this will more than likely be the end of the road for the 20-year-old, considering Novak Djokovic likely awaits in the draw.
Regardless, this will be Shelton’s best Grand Slam performance by far, and he could still produce some surprises as an underdog with nothing to lose.
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