Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton are similar players in how they approach tennis but also quite different, making their upcoming US Open match must-see TV.
Tiafoe has been playing really solid tennis at the US Open which was largely expected. He didn't look that sharp leading up to the event but after his run last year, you kind of assumed he would turn the corner rather quickly.
Most matches at the US Open went smoothly, but that doesn't mean this will. Shelton brings a lot of fire to the table, and they never played before, so it will be a new experience for both of them. Tiafoe has more experience, but Shelton has risen to the occasion this year, so it doesn't mean it will be a huge advantage.
Head-to-head:
Shelton and Tiafoe haven't played so far on the ATP Tour, but they know each other pretty well, making this match even more interesting. It's been a year since Shelton has played on Tour, and Tiafoe is quite a good scout. The matchup is an electric one, especially since it will take place in New York, so anything can really happen.
Prediction:
Any time you have a matchup like this, it's kind of hard to predict what might happen. Tiafoe is obviously the more complete player, arguably the better player, though he's not an unbeatable player. There are certainly ways that he could lose this match.
Shelton is young and probably doesn't know enough to be afraid of the matchup. Every match like this is special for him, and that makes him very hard to beat. Some nerves were shown against Paul, which Tiafoe could use to his advantage, but generally, it looks to be quite similar.
We have to go with Tiafoe though, especially after he proved it last year.
Prediction: Frances Tiafoe to win in four sets.
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