It will be a rematch of the Western & Southern Open quarterfinals from 2024 when Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton meet again in the same phase of the same tournament on Friday. Zverev won an absolute thriller in Cincinnati 12 months ago, which after two hours and 29 minutes ruled 3-6, 7-6 (3-6 (3), 7-5.
That marked the very first confrontation between the two players and Zverev now leads the head-to-head series 3-0. The German also scored a few victories earlier this season; 6-2, 6-4 on the red clay of Munich and in a few tie treakers on the grass benches of Stuttgart.
In a period of only two months since their Stuttgart meeting, Shelton is already another player. The 22-year-old American plays much smarter and more consistent tennis from the back of the field, a big reason why he has risen to number 6 in the world. Shelton’s current Nine-Match Winning Streak contains a title in the victories of Toronto Masters and Cincinnati on Camilo Ugo Carabelli, Roberto Bautista Agut and Jiri Lehecka. The left-handed is 12-1 since the start of the Hardcourt Swing and 16-2 date from the start of Wimbledon.
Zverev has already benefited from the confronted with one finalist from Toronto in Cincinnati. The third rank German went against Canada Masters Runner-up Karen Khahanov and received a pension while he led 7-5, 3-0. That result was preceded by straight defeats of Nishesh Basavareddy and Brandon Nakashima.
There is no doubt that Shelton is in superior form and this match would probably win if both boys play their best. At a certain point, however, you have to think that all these competitions will catch up with him – as they did with Khachanov. Given that Zverev also sweeps the head-to-head series, you should like the chances of the seed of the seed on Friday evening.
Pick: Beasts and 3
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