Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Toronto match.
The semi-finals of the ATP Toronto Masters feature an all-American clash between the country’s top two players, Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz. Their last meeting on a hard court ended in favour of Fritz, but now, with Shelton having climbed into the world’s top 10, he’ll be determined to turn the tables.
Ben Shelton
Ben Shelton comes into this semi-final as the world No.7. His 2024 campaign has been impressive, with a semi-final run at the Australian Open and a quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon. In Toronto, he dispatched Alex de Minaur (ATP No.8) in straight sets, ending a seven-match winning streak for the Australian on hard courts. Shelton’s serve has been a major weapon — he’s claimed 78% of points behind his first serve and fired 62 aces across four matches.
Taylor Fritz
Currently ranked No.4 in the world, Taylor Fritz has not lifted a hard-court title since February. While he boasts an 89.7% success rate on serve this season, his first serve percentage is a relatively low 59%. His struggles on return have also been evident: Fritz broke Roberto Carballés Baena just three times and failed to generate any break points against Jiri Lehecka. Additionally, Taylor has found it difficult in hard-court semi-finals against top-10 opponents, losing five of eight such matches.
Ben Shelton vs Taylor Fritz Prediction
Ben Shelton looks well-placed to keep this encounter tight, if not edge it outright. Taylor Fritz’s inconsistency on serve could be a decisive factor, particularly given the pressure Shelton’s explosive delivery puts on his opponents.
