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Match Details
Fixture: (4) Taylor Fritz vs Ben Shelton
Date: Saturday, March 11, 2023
Tournament: BNP Paribas Open
Round: Second round (Round of 64)
Venue: Indian Wells, California, USA
Category: ATP Masters 1000
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize money: $8,800,000
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Taylor Fritz vs Ben Shelton preview
Fourth seed Taylor Fritz opens his Indian Wells title defense against compatriot Ben Shelton on Saturday (March 11).
The fifth-ranked Fritz has had a good start to the year, winning 14 of his 18 matches. His seven-match winning streak was snapped by compatriot Tommy Paul in a third set tiebreak in the Acapulco semifinals last week. Fritz had arrived at the ATP 500 tournament after winning his first title of the year at Delray Beach.
Earlier, the 25-year-old American opened his 2023 campaign with four wins in five matches at the inaugural United Cup before suffering a shock second-round exit at the Australian Open (losing to Alexei Popyrin). Fritz returned to winning ways in Dallas, where he lost to eventual champion Yibing Wu in the last four.
Meanwhile, World No. 41 Shelton, who lost in the Acapulco first round last week, improved to 6-4 in 2023 after beating Italian veteran Fabio Fognini in his Indian Wells opener. Shelton had opened the year with two losses in his first three matches before making an inspired run to his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open (losing to Tommy Paul).
Taylor Fritz vs Ben Shelton head-to-head
The two players have never met before, so their H2H record stands at 0-0.
Taylor Fritz vs Ben Shelton odds
All odds are sourced from BetMGM.
Taylor Fritz vs Ben Shelton prediction
Both Fritz and Shelton are essentially baseline players, but the former's superior experience and consistency give him a distinct edge.
Fritz has a game built around a strong serve, hits powerful groundstrokes off either flank, and moves well for his height. Shelton, meanwhile, has exhibited his elite athleticism on a few occasions this year. The 20-year-old left-hander is making his Indian Wells debut, having won two of his three matches on his ATP Masters 1000 debut in Cincinnati last year.
However, Shelton could come up short against the defending Indian Wells champion, who looks primed for another deep run in the first Masters 1000 event of the year.
Prediction: Fritz in straight sets
