Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Paris match.
Shelton, now the No. 2 American, meets Rublev after capturing his first major title in Toronto. The Russian has finally ended a long losing streak and started confidently in Paris.
Ben Shelton
Ranked seventh in the world, Shelton has enjoyed a strong season with a semi-final appearance at the Australian Open and a quarter-final run at Wimbledon. His biggest achievement came in Toronto, where he claimed the Masters title after defeating five top-50 opponents. Since then, he has won seven of his last eleven matches. Indoors, he holds an excellent record of just twelve losses in fifty-four career matches. In Paris, Shelton opened with a straight-sets win over Flavio Cobolli (7:6, 6:3), winning an impressive 86 percent of points behind his first serve.
Andrey Rublev
Currently 17th in the ATP rankings, Rublev’s season has been inconsistent despite a title in Doha and a final in Hamburg. Since autumn, he has dropped five matches, including losses to Yoshihito Nishioka and Valentin Royer, both outside the top 50. Two victories in Paris have boosted his confidence, yet his record against top-10 opponents remains poor, with nine defeats in his last ten encounters. Although his forehand is a major weapon, emotional instability continues to undermine his game. In his matches against Jacob Fearnley and Tien, Rublev’s first-serve percentage was limited to around 60%.
Ben Shelton vs Andrey Rublev Prediction
Shelton’s explosive serve and athleticism should overwhelm Rublev, who remains fragile under pressure and struggles against elite players. Expect the American to control the match and advance to the next round.
