Ben Shelton endured a tough first round at the 2024 Roland Garros, and he'll get a chance to improve against Kei Nishikori in the second round.
Both of these players had signature wins in the previous round. Shelton navigated a very tricky matchup against native player Hugo Gaston to secure a spot in the second round, while Nishikori won a five-setter against Gabriel Diallo from Canada.
Both were tricky matches, but Nishikori's undertaking is certainly notable as this was his first match on clay this year. His battle with injuries in recent years has been well-documented, so it's just great to see him back on the courts and competing.
This will be quite interesting because Shelton is the overwhelming favorite but a talent like Nishikori can always trouble any opponent on the ATP Tour.
Shelton and Nishikori obviously didn't play against each other before because the Japanese player spent most of the past two years away from the sport. That's when Shelton's rise came, but it's a fascinating matchup on paper because the American is similar to Diallo, whom Nishikori beat.
Obviously, the American is the far better player, more healthy, and will likely be fresher. Nishikori may not be ready to battle after a five-setter, and he'll need to because the 21-year-old will apply heavy pressure on him.
Being aggressive is Shelton's calling card, and considering that Nishikori doesn't have overwhelming power in his game, there is a decent chance that Shelton will take it upon himself to dominate.
| Ben Shelton | Kei Nishikori | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | H2H | 0 |
| 15 | Rank | 350 |
| 21 | Age | 34 |
| 18-10 | 2024 W/L | 1-1 |
| 47-37 | Career W/L | 433-213 |
Nishikori surely has a game to counter the American's style of play, but his body may not be ready to handle another battle like the one he had in the previous round.
Prediction: Ben Shelton to win in four sets.