“I think the consistency in my tennis is improving every week,” is what Ben Shelton said about his current form. The young ATP star has had an excellent start at the ongoing tournament in Cincinnati. Looking forward to securing a position in the top 16, the 21-year-old is gearing up for a gripping showdown against a known rival, Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Although the Argentine had to walk home with sheer disappointment on his face after their previous clash, this could be his chance to get revenge against the American rival. 

Ben Shelton vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry: Preview

Shelton had a notable run at the Canadian Open. The American defeated his doubles partner Alexander Bublik 7-6(4), 6-2 in the opening round. However, despite the dominant start, his campaign was hindered by Alexis Popyrin in the R32 match. Shelton didn’t let himself down and began his Cincinnati Masters campaign with a remarkable victory over Reilly Opelka in straight sets, both ending in tie-breakers. Despite his strong serve on hard courts this season (68%), Shelton’s return game stands to be a big concern as he has won just 33% of points on return.

On the other side, Etcheverry made the most of Nicolas Jarry’s poor form and health issues at the Montreal Masters and achieved a rare win on hard courts. Unfortunately, his run ended in the second round against Andrey Rublev, who extended his campaign to be the runner-up. In the Cincinnati Open, he started with a tough match against Matteo Arnaldi (6-3, 6-7, 6-2). Now, he looks to oust Shelton.

Shelton vs Etcheverry: Head-to-head

Shelton and Etcheverry played their only match this year. Their only showdown so far took place at the American clay court tournament in Houston, where Shelton managed to take Etcheverry down with a final score of 6-7, 6-4, 6-4. This helped Shelton earn a position in the finals where he defeated Frances Tiafoe to win the title.

Prediction: Shelton in three sets

Shelton is ready to face Etcheverry on their first hard-court clash. Shelton’s powerful serve, reaching speeds of 140 mph, can make the match tough for Etcheverry. His quick movements and strong forehand make him a dangerous player. He has an explosive left-handed style that mixes speed and power. However, the American feels like he is not playing his best right now. He admitted, “I’m not where I want to be, doing the things that I want to do yet, but I know I have room for improvement.“ This lack of confidence might give Etcheverry a chance to make a move in the match.

Despite the ability to attain a head start in the hard-court events, he has struggled on the surface this season. Out of a total of 9 matches played throughout this season, he managed to win just 4 of them. Furthermore, three of his last five hard-court events in 2024 ended in first-round losses.

Shelton has great memories of playing in Cincinnati and could use this to boost his game. Although he struggles to win matches easily because of his risky style, his better win-loss numbers in the ongoing season make him a clear favorite. Additionally, Shelton is a big server, as he even managed to out-serve Reilly Opelka and attained an 88% win on the first serve in their clash. However, should Etcheverry kick his serve up a notch, he can take advantage of Shelton’s problematic return.

For now, this match will probably go to three sets, with Shelton finding a way to win.