Ben Shelton faces Roberto Bautista Agut in the US Open second round on Wednesday, expected to outplay a seasoned opponent 15 years his senior.
The 21-year-old dispatched Dominic Thiem in straight sets on Monday, as did his veteran opponent, who got the better of Luca Nardi to bounce back from an underwhelming run in the lead-up to the tournament.
Match preview
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Thiem, facing a challenging first-round draw against Shelton in his last Grand Slam appearance before retirement, suffered a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 defeat, as expected.
His 21-year-old opponent overpowered the 2020 US Open champion to advance to the competition's second round, keen to build on a decent sequence of results before the final Slam of the year.
It was the No. 13 seed's sixth victory at his home major, levelling his six wins at the Australian Open and last year's semi-finalist hopes to record a seventh against his 36-year-old opponent in round two.
The effervescent Shelton has advanced to the third round Down Under and at Roland Garros before reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon, and he hopes to make it to a third match on home turf this year after his 2023 exploits.
Despite seemingly early eliminations in the second and third Majors of 2024, the American's run in Paris and at SW19 saw him hit new heights at both majors, having previously exited in the first round at the French Open and second at the Championships, even if it remains to be seen if the 2023 semi-finalist improves on last year's run.
While an all-American tussle with Frances Tiafoe could be imminent in the third round — a repeat of last year's exciting quarter-final — Shelton cannot afford to look ahead and discount the possible threat of his experienced opponent.
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Bautista Agut's best years may be behind him, but the 11-time Tour-level champion's wealth of experience could be beneficial against his younger opponent.
Monday's round-one victory was just what the doctor ordered for the 36-year-old Spaniard, whose previous US Open experience was a first-round exit as the 16th seed to Wildcard JJ Wolf in 2022.
Back in New York after missing out last year, the experienced player beat Nardi in straight sets, even if the 7-5, 7-6(3), 7-5(5) outcome shows the tournament-opening victory was far from straightforward.
After a pair of first-round exits at the Majors in Australia and Paris, the Spaniard has now advanced past the opening round in consecutive Slams, following a fourth-round run at Wimbledon.
Having never made it past the fourth round at Flushing Meadows, Bautista Agut hopes to hit a personal high despite his advanced years, but he must go through Shelton and a possible meeting with Tiafoe in the following round to match round-four runs in 2014 and 2015.
Tournament so far
Ben Shelton:
First round: vs. Dominic Thiem 6-4 6-4 6-2
Roberto Bautista Agut:
First round: vs. Luca Nardi 7-5 7-6[3] 7-6[5]
Head To Head
Australian Open (2024) - First round: Shelton 6-2 7-6(2) 7-5
Shelton and Bautista Agut's only meeting came at this year's Australian Open first round, where the American claimed victory in straight sets.
While the World No. 67 has won 11 ATP Tour titles to the talented youngster's two, Shelton's 30-19 win record in 2024 is superior to the experienced player's 15 wins in 31 matches.
We say: Shelton to win in four sets
Although his victory over Bautista Agut came in straight sets Down Under, Shelton had to navigate two tight sets against his Spanish opponent in the win. Even though we expect the American to overwhelm the 36-year-old, the veteran should nick a set against the American this time.
