Main-draw action at the ATP 500 in Barcelona gets underway on Monday, when compatriots Ben Shelton and Mackenzie McDonald will go head-to-head. Meanwhile, Emil Ruusuvuori and Alexander Bublik also faced each other at this event in 2022.
Ben Shelton vs. Mackenzie McDonald
It will be a battle of Americans on Spanish clay at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Monday with youngster Ben Shelton taking on countryman Mackenzie McDonald. Shelton has already played a few matches on clay this season. The world No. 39 played (and won) his first professional clay-court match in Estoril a couple of weeks ago. He eventually lost in the second round to former French Open finalist Dominic Thiem. He also took the court in Monte-Carlo but lost a tough three-setter in the first round to Grigor Dimitrov.
Shelton’s opponent, world No. 52 Mackenzie McDonald, is looking for his first clay-court win of the year. The American seems to avoid most of the European clay swing. Last year he won a single match in Barcelona before bowing out to Diego Schwartzman in the second round. McDonald has had a decent start to his 2023 season. He defeated Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open, although the Spaniard was admittedly suffering from the same injury that continues to keep him sidelined. He also made the semis in Delray Beach. But, of course, that was hard court and this is clay–a surface on which he has an anemic 8-13 record.
Shelton showed some signs of moving well on the dirt in his matches so far, although success has been slightly out of reach. Look for him to get his second clay-court victory on Monday.
Cheryl pick: Shelton in 2
Ricky pick: Shelton in 3
Emil Ruusuvuori vs. Alexander Bublik
This will be a rematch of their second-round contest last year in Barcelona, as Emil Ruusuvuori takes on Alexander Bublik. Ruusuvuori won that encounter in easy straight sets. The Finn, who is his country’s top player, comes into Barcelona off a disappointing showing at the Monte-Carlo Masters last week. Ruusuvuori had just made his way to the quarters at the Miami Masters, but he slipped into the Monte-Carlo main draw as a lucky loser. His run was short-lived, as he crashed out in the first round to Jiri Lehecka.
Bublik, who plays for Kazakhstan, didn’t fare much better. He wasn’t required to qualify in Monte-Carlo, but he was also dispatched in the first round by Alexander Zverev. He has had a horrific start to the 2023 campaign. With his first-round loss in Monte-Carlo included, he is 4-13 on the season.
While Ruusuvuori gets far better results on hard courts, expect this one to go to the Finn.
Cheryl pick: Ruusuvuori in 2
Ricky pick: Ruusuvuori in 2
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