'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Match Details
Fixture: (21) Ben Shelton vs Brandon Nakashima
Date: January 14, 2025
Tournament: Australian Open 2025
Round: First Round (Round of 128)
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Hard (Outdoor)
Prize Money: A$ 96,500,000
Live telecast: USA - ESPN & Tennis Channel | UK - Eurosport | India - Sony Sports & Sony LIV
Ben Shelton vs Brandon Nakashima preview
21st-seed Ben Shelton will be looking to begin his 2025 Grand Slam season with a win when he takes on Brandon Nakashima in the first round. 2024 was a season of steady results for Shelton, as the young American reached two finals on the Tour, winning his second career title on the clay courts in Houston.
Trending
Barring the two final runs, Shelton also had multiple semifinal finishes in Acapulco, Dallas, and Washington. However, 2025 began with a loss for the American player. The World No. 20 was the top seed at the ASB Classic. However, in a hard-fought three-set battle, he lost against Jakub Mensik 6-7 (2), 6-4, 5-7 in the opening round in Auckland.
Nakashima did not win any titles in 2024. The American players only had two semifinal finishes in Hangzhou and Stuttgart. However, he had better results on the Challenger Tour, with one title, one runner-up finish, and four semifinal appearances.
Nakashima has a 1-2 record in 2025 so far. Lorenzo Sonego defeated him 6-7(3), 4-6 in the first round of the Hong Kong Open. At the ASB Classic, he started with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 win over Yannick Hanfmann in the first round. He lost in the next round, losing 2-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5) against Rinki Hijikata.
Ben Shelton vs Brandon Nakashima head-to-head
Shelton has a 2-0 lead over Nakashima in the head-to-head. Shelton won the last match 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) at the 2024 Citi Open.
Ben Shelton vs Brandon Nakashima odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Ben Shelton vs Brandon Nakashima prediction
Shelton has a 6-2 record at the Australian Open, with a quarterfinal run in 2022 earning the American player widespread fame in the tennis community. He also had a semifinal run on the hard courts of the US Open in the same year. His maiden title came on the same surface at the 2023 Japan Open with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Aslan Karatsev in the final.
Nakashima is yet to win a match at the Australian Open. However, the American's all three career finals have come on hard courts. His only title came at the 2022 San Diego Open, where he won 6-4, 6-4 against Marcos Giron in the final.
Nakashima's poor record in Melbourne and Shelton's positive head-to-head against him, make the 21st seed the firm favorite for the upcoming match.
Pick- Shelton to win in straight sets.
