Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Australian Open match.
Ben Shelton is aiming to return to the top 20 of the world rankings and continue his impressive performance at the Australian Open, where he reached the quarter-finals two years ago. Pablo Carreno Busta has recently been dealing with injuries and even contemplated retirement last year. Currently ranked 191st, his experience and tenacity on hard courts make him a dangerous opponent.
Ben Shelton
Shelton navigated a challenging first-round match against Brandon Nakashima (7:6, 7:5, 7:5), serving 12 aces and winning 74% of points on his first serve. His playing style focuses on quick points and an aggressive approach, making the American a strong favourite—with 70 wins in 110 matches on hard courts. Notably, Shelton has won 14 of his last 16 encounters against players ranked outside the top 100 in the past year.
Pablo Carreno Busta
Carreno Busta is regaining form after injury, but his results remain inconsistent. At the United Cup, he challenged Stefanos Tsitsipas but was defeated (4:6, 6:4, 3:6). He then suffered two losses at the Auckland tournament, against Zizou Bergs and Jakub Menšík. In the first round of the Australian Open, Pablo convincingly beat Kamil Majchrzak (6:4, 6:4, 6:3), although the opponent was not a significant threat. In 2023, Carreno Busta lost 13 of 24 hard-court matches, with six losses to players under the age of 23.
Ben Shelton vs Pablo Carreno Busta Prediction
The difference in playing level and current form is clear. Shelton's powerful serve and aggressive style will pose numerous challenges for the Spaniard. While Carreno Busta might attempt to extend rallies, it's unlikely he will counter Shelton's fast-paced attacking game. Therefore, we are backing a win for Shelton with a handicap.
