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Match Details
Fixture: (8) Ben Shelton vs Mariano Navone
Date: 27 September 2024
Tournament: Japan Open 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 16)
Venue: Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan
Category: ATP 500
Surface: Hard (Outdoor)
Prize Money: $1,818,380
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - DAZN
Ben Shelton vs Mariano Navone preview
Ben Shelton will square off against Mariano Navone in the second round of the 2024 Japan Open on 27 September.
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Shelton began his 2024 campaign with a semifinal run in Auckland, but his Australian Open ended disappointingly in the third round. His only title of the year came in Houston, where he defeated fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the final. He faced a series of disappointing results on clay and grass, struggling with consistency.
During the North American hardcourt swing, Shelton reached the semifinals in Washington and the quarterfinals in Cincinnati. His US Open campaign was brought to a halt in the third round by Tiafoe, preventing him from defending his semifinal points. He then competed at the Laver Cup, finishing 1-1 in singles with a win over Daniil Medvedev and a loss to Carlos Alcaraz.
Shelton kicked off his campaign in Tokyo with an emphatic comeback victory over Reilly Opelka, winning 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in a thrilling first-round encounter.
On the other hand, Navone spent the first quarter of the season competing on the Challenger and ITF circuits but made a name for himself during the clay court swing. He reached his first ATP final at the Rio Open, defeating second seed Cameron Norrie before falling to compatriot Sebastian Baez.
Navone reached his second final at the Romania Open, going down to Marton Fucsovics on this occasion. He also reached the semifinals in Morocco where he lost to eventual champion Matteo Berrettini in a three-set thriller.
The Argentine has since struggled to replicate that form on grass and hard courts, managing just one win in five matches during the North American hardcourt swing. Despite his recent struggles, Navone emphatically opened his campaign in Tokyo with a routine 6-4, 6-4 victory over Luciano Darderi in the first round.
Ben Shelton vs Mariano Navone head-to-head
Ben Shelton and Mariano Navone have yet to face off on tour so their head-to-head stands at 0-0.
Ben Shelton vs Mariano Navone odds
(Odds to be added once available)
Ben Shelton vs Mariano Navone prediction
Ben Shelton was put on the back foot early in his opener in Tokyo, losing the first set. However, he quickly turned things around to secure a comfortable victory. While he wasn’t at his blistering best on serve, he dominated play from the back of the court. His net play also proved effective whenever he chose to go forward.
Navone, on the contrary, looked sharp in his opener in stark contrast to his poor form on the hardcourts so far this year. He dominated all aspects of the match, particularly on return, winning 40 of 82 receiving points. He also made very few unforced errors, showcasing incredible shot-making.
Shelton enters this matchup as the favorite, despite the pair's performances in Tokyo so far. He is clearly the superior hardcourt player with a better overall record. If Navone doesn't take the initiative to attack early, we could see a one-sided affair in favor of the American.
Pick: Shelton in straight sets.
