Ben Shelton and Karen Khahanov are back in action at the Cincinnati Masters after they are facing each other in the Toronto final. They are planned for respective Third-Round Showdowns against Roberto Bautista Agut and Jenson Brooksby.
(5) Ben Shelton vs. Roberto Bautista Agut
A second set-up retirement of Camilo Ugo Carabelli while leading 6-3, 3-1 was exactly what the doctor ordered for Shelton in his first game in the Western & Southern Open. The sixth ranking American finally comes from the biggest title of his career at the Toronto Masters last Thursday Karen Khachanov survived in a third set of Tiebreker. With a day off prior to his third round match, Shelton should play a lot in the vicinity of a full tank on Tuesday.
Next for the number 5 seed is a third meeting with Bautista Agut in what has been a comfortable matchup so far. Shelton drove straight sets on both the Australian Open and US Open in 2024. At the age of 37, it cannot be expected that Bautista Agut suddenly turns the tide. The 53rd rank Spaniard is only 14-19 this season and was on a three-match loss line before he defeated Daniel Altmaier and Cameron Norrie in his first two Cincinnati matches. A steep step in the competition against an on-Fire Shelton will probably be the end of the road for Bautista Agut.
Choose: Shelton in 2
(14) Karen Khachanov vs. (WC) Jenson Brooksby
Khachanov has passed a harder test than Shelton in his opening match of the fourteen days, with Valentin Royer 6-4, 7-6 (6) being defeated, after coming back from 4-1 in the second set of Tiebreak and a set point on Royer’s Serve Saving in a dramatic way. For example, an impressive run remains for the 12th ranking Russian, which reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev in Toronto defeated before losing Shelton.
A second confrontation against Brooksby is now on the menu for Khachanov, who was blown out 6-0, 6-3 in their only earlier meeting (2022 Indian Wells Masters). It has been a mixed bag for Brooksby since the return of injuries and suspension at the beginning of this year, but flashes of his former self are there-as a title in Houston and a second effort in Eastbourne. The American will be back in the top 100 and with room to follow Cincinnati’s victories on Alexandre Muller and an in-shape Arthur Cazaux. Fatigue can be a factor for Khachanov and Brooksby is an opponent that you really make at work, so don’t be surprised if there is an upset in the cards.
Pick: Brooksby in 3
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