Ben Shelton vs Denis Shapovalov Prediction U.S. Open - New York · Sep 5, 2026

Analysis

Shelton comes in off a 3-1 win over Tallon Griekspoor, a scoreline that reads exactly like his game: dominant stretches interrupted by one loose set. Shapovalov arrived at the same place from the other side of the net, beating Miomir Kecmanovic 3-1 on the road, so both men are through in four sets and both are swinging freely. This is left-hander against left-hander on a fast New York hard court, which neutralises the serve-into-the-backhand pattern both usually rely on and turns the match into a shootout of first strikes. Shelton's edge is the sheer weight of his delivery and the forehand behind it, plus a New York crowd that lifts him in a way few things in tennis do. Shapovalov has the shot-making to steal a set on any given day and the one-handed backhand to change the geometry of a rally, but his margins are thinner over best-of-five. Expect an entertaining, serve-heavy contest that Shelton controls on the big points without shutting the door completely.