Cincinnati Open 2024: Ben Shelton vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (12) Ben Shelton vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Date: August 15, 2024
Tournament: Cincinnati Open 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio, US
Category: ATP Masters 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $6,795,555
Live Telecast: US - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+
Ben Shelton vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry preview
Twelfth seed Ben Shelton will square off against Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the second round of the Cincinnati Open 2024.
Shelton was drawn against fellow American Reilly Opelka, who's on the comeback trail, in the first round here. As is usually the case while playing a server of Opelka's caliber, there were no breaks of serve in the match. Both sets went to a tie-break, in which the 21-year-old came out on top to register a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) win.
Etcheverry was up against World No. 30 Matteo Arnaldi in the first round, who made the semifinals of the Canadian Open a few days ago. The Argentine started well as he broke his younger rival's serve at the start of the first set.
Arnaldi dug deep to get back on serve, only for Etcheverry to sweep the last four games to claim the opener. The Italian overcame a break deficit in the second set and then went up a break to lead 5-4. While he couldn't serve out the set at that point, he gained the upper hand in the tie-break to take the set.
After he lost focus in the second set, Etcheverry got back on track in the decider. He broke Arnaldi's serve twice in the third set to secure a 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-2 victory, his first at the venue as well.
Ben Shelton vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry head-to-head
Shelton leads Etcheverry 1-0 in the head-to-head. He won their previous encounter at this year's US Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston in three sets.
Ben Shelton vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Ben Shelton vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry prediction
Shelton sneaked past Opelka in two tight sets to begin his campaign here. Etcheverry ousted a tricky opponent in the form of Arnaldi to record his fourth win on hardcourts this year. The American, meanwhile, improved his record on the surface to 16-10.
Aside from his poor record on hardcourts this year, Etcheverry has also struggled against quality opposition. He has lost all seven of his matches against top 20 players this season. Additionally, he's also 0-7 against top 20 players on hardcourts in his career and has won only two sets against them in those losses.
Shelton has been a little inconsistent in recent weeks, with a semifinal in Washington preceded and followed by early exits in Atlanta and Montreal. However, Etcheverry's poor record on hardcourts and against top players gives the American a good shot to match his best result in Cincinnati by reaching the third round.
Pick: Ben Shelton to win in straight sets.