Ben Shelton vs Fabio Fognini Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Indian Wells

Prediction published on 09/03/2023, 04:56  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 09/03/2023 at 05:56 in Tennis Predictions

Considering he was ranked as low as 570th last year, Ben Shelton couldn't have expected to be given direct entry to the 2023 Indian Wells tournament. He began this tournament at a career high ranking of 41st and takes on Fabio Fognini in the first round. Victory will see him face defending champion and fourth seed Taylor Fritz in an all-American second round clash. The 20-year-old began his rise up the rankings by reaching three Challenger Tour events in 2022. He lost all three but then hit top form with three titles won in a month. 2023 saw him get to the last 16 in Auckland and then he reached the quarter finals of the Australian Open. He hasn't built on that though with first round exits in Delray Beach and Acapulco. He did take world number ten Holger Rune to three sets in the latter of those events.

Fabio Fognini is going in the opposite direction in the rankings. The Italian was ninth in the world four years ago but is 88th in the latest list. That's 33 places below his ranking at the start of this year and a drop of 52 positions in the last 12 months. The 35-year-old has had a disappointing 2023 to date. He lost both of his matches in New Zealand and Australia and didn't improve a great deal when playing on clay in South America. The Italian took part in three tournaments and his only win came against Tomas Barrios Vera who was ranked 196th at the time. His most recent tournament saw him lose in straight sets to eventual runner-up Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the Chile Open. Back Shelton to get the win here.