Roberto Carballes Baena vs Ben Shelton Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Shanghai Masters

Prediction published on 04/10/2024, 09:11  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 04/10/2024 at 10:40 in ATP Shanghai Masters Predictions

14th seed Ben Shelton takes on unseeded Roberto Carballes Baena in round three of the Shanghai Masters. Both players are in the same section of the draw of this hard court tournament as top seed Jannik Sinner. Here's our match prediction.

Shelton is the world number 16 but down a place in the live rankings. That's because he is defending the points earned when reaching the quarter-finals of this hard court tournament last year.

He celebrates his 22nd birthday next Wednesday and would love to still be in this tournament then. Shelton is 21st in the ATP Live Race so unlikely to be playing in this year's end-of-season ATP Tour Finals.

After receiving a first-round bye, Shelton beat qualifier Denis Shapovalov in straight sets in round two. His last tournament saw him get to the last eight of the Japan Open and before that he had a win over Daniil Medvedev in the Laver Cup.

To reach the next round, Roberto Carballes Baena must beat Ben Shelton for the first time. They've had one previous meeting and that was on a hard court this year in Auckland. Shelton won that match in straight sets.

Baena is the world number 54 but up two places in the live list. The Spaniard had lost three of his last four matches before this tournament. He's beaten Roberto Bautista Agut and 21st seed Arthur Fils to reach round three.

He did reach the last eight in Hangzhou but didn't beat any top 65 ranked player.  This is only the third time this year he has won two successive matches in an ATP Tour hard court event. We tip Shelton to win this in straight sets.