Americans Ben Shelton and Brandon Nakashima are off to strong starts at the U.S. Open and they will be in second-round action on Wednesday. Shelton awaits Roberto Bautista Agut, while Nakashima faces Arthur Cazaux.
(13) Ben Shelton vs. Roberto Bautista Agut
It will be the American Ben Shelton again the Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut in one of the marquee matches on Wednesday. Shelton, who burst onto the tennis scene in 2023, made his way all the way to the semifinals of the U.S. Open last summer. It has now been a year of good results for the 21-year-old. He even picked up the second title of his career in Houston. Better news for the former NCAA champion is that he tends to perform well in best-of-five situations. He has a monster first serve–as long as it’s firing, he has a chance in most matches.
His opponent is the tough veteran in the form of Bautista Agut. The 36-year-old is certainly not the player he once was, but he is still a dangerous opponent–especially on hard courts. Bautista Agut hasn’t had a stellar season and he came into the U.S. Open with a 15-16 record on the season.
Look for Shelton to put on a good display for his New York fans. He’s a showman with what is sure to be an appreciative crowd and he has plenty of firepower to deal with a player who is no longer at his best.
Cheryl pick: Shelton in 3
Ricky pick: Shelton in 3
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Brandon Nakashima vs. Arthur Cazaux
France’s Arthur Cazaux always seems to be teetering on the brink of a big breakthrough. The 22-year-old made some waves at the Australian Open this year, when he made the round of 16–but he has been quiet ever since. He is 8-10 for the season.
Brandon Nakashima is ranked 50th in the world. His season has been a mixed bag, but he has looked fresh and been playing well on hard courts this summer. Nakashima looked especially good again Holger Rune in the first round, prevailing in surprisingly easy straight sets.
Given Cazaux’s form–or lack thereof–at the moment, Wednesday’s match represents an excellent opportunity for the American. Look for Nakashima to continue his good form and winning ways straight into the third round.
Cheryl pick: Nakashima in 4
Ricky pick: Nakashima in 4
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WWW?
Shelton in 3; Naka in 3 ( he was en fuego on Mon vs Rune!)
Shelton in 5
Bautista is not Thiem