Ben Shelton vs Frances Tiafoe - Houston Final Tennis Prediction and Pick 4/7/24
Ben Shelton vs Frances Tiafoe
April 7, 2024
Ben Shelton -117 / Frances Tiafoe -113 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: USA: Tennis Channel Plus, UK: Sky Tennis, Global: Tennis TV
Top seed Ben Shelton and third seed Frances Tiafoe will clash in the final of the 2024 U.S. Clay Court Championship in Houston on Sunday, April 7, 2024. Here's our Ben Shelton vs Frances Tiafoe prediction.
Ben Shelton
Ben Shelton defeated last year's finalist Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinal to reach a maiden ATP final on clay courts. This is his debut appearance in Houston, Texas, and the 21-year-old pulled off his second comeback victory of the week by outlasting one of the most consistent performers on the surface. Shelton is still learning his trade on clay, but his versatility is impressive. He can slice, slide, and generate sufficient topspin in his groundstrokes to unsettle his opponents. The scary thing is that clay is hardly his strongest surface. Maybe this could be the start of something special for the rising young American.
Frances Tiafoe
Unlike Shelton, Frances Tiafoe is more accomplished on clay. The world no. 21 won this tournament 12 months ago and completed the set of winning at least one ATP title on every surface on tour by winning in Stuttgart last June. Tiafoe has been tested on his title defense, surviving a three-setter against Australia's James Duckworth in his opener and then scoring two tight straight-set wins over Jordan Thompson and Cordoba champion Luciano Darderi.
Ben Shelton vs Frances Tiafoe Head-To-Head
Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe have played once on tour. Shelton won their lone meeting in the quarterfinal of the 2023 US Open in four sets and famously produced the telephone celebration.
Ben Shelton vs Frances Tiafoe Prediction
It should be an intriguing final that could go either way, and the bookies seem to think that way, with margins as thin as a razor blade. Shelton has impressed, beating compatriot Brandon Nakashima and Argetina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry. He won his last ATP final in Tokyo last year and has outperformed Tiafoe this season. This match could also cement Shelton's place as the top-ranked American in the Olympics standings with two months of the race to go. While the 21-year-old lefty is still a rookie on clay, he possesses a lot of the attributes required to excel, as mentioned at the top of the article. Add to his incredible, pacey serve, and he has the perfect cocktail to cause an upset.
Nur’s Pick Ben Shelton in three sets
AUTHOR: Nur Said
