Ben Shelton vs Grigor Dimitrov Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Monte Carlo Masters

Prediction published on 09/04/2023, 14:19  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 09/04/2023 at 15:20 in Tennis Predictions

Ben Shelton faces a tough task on his debut in the Monte Carlo Masters. He takes on the far more experienced Grigor Dimitrov on an outdoor hard court. The winner faces either 12th seeded Frances Tiafoe or Jiri Lehecka in round two. Shelton is 39th in the live rankings which is 14 places below that of his opponent. The American began the year ranked 96th in the world at the start of the year and way down in 545th this time last year. He's made his way up the rankings, initlally with three straight wins in Challenger Tour events and then his run to the last eight of the Australian Open this year. His job since then has been to try and build on that Grand Slam performance. That hasn't happened though with only a couple of wins in six matches. One came on clay in Estoril last week before losing to Dominic Thiem, winning just four games.

Grigor Dimitrov will be looking to repeat the success he had in Monte Carlo last year. He reached the semi-final for the second time in his career. He has tons more experience on clay than his opponent and that is likely to be the deciding factor. His best performance this year was getting to the last four in Rotterdam and he also made it to the quarter finals in Marseille. This is their first meeting and it's Dimitrov who can get the win in straight sets.