Ben Shelton vs Roberto Carballes Baena Prediction & Betting Tips - ASB Classic

Prediction published on 10/01/2024, 08:38  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 10/01/2024 at 09:38 in Tennis Predictions

Top seed Ben Shelton is looking good for a place in the ASB Classic final. He takes on unseeded Roberto Carballes Baena in the quarter final and Shelton is the only seed left in the top half of the draw. The winner of this quarter final will take on either Taro Daniel or qualifier Alexandre Muller for a place in the final. Shelton rose to fame last year when making it to the last eight of the Australian Open. The American began this tournament ranked 16th but didn't go so well in his first event of the year. He lost in the last 32 to Roman Safiullin but it's been going better for him in Auckland. So far he's beaten Fabio Marozsan in straight sets, losing seven games.

Roberto Carballes Baena is the world number 67 but up to 60th in the live rankings. He's a far better player on clay and in 2023 only won four of his 16 hard court matches. Baena is far more comfortable on clay but has done well to get to the last eight of this tournament. He beat fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round without a set being dropped. Round two saw him knock out the seventh seed Sebastian Ofner in straight sets. Last year saw him get to one ATP Tour final but that was in Morocco on clay. This is going to be tough against Shelton who also got to the last four in the hard court US Open in 2023. We tip Shelton to get a win here in straight sets.