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Match Details
Fixture: (2) Novak Djokovic vs Ben Shelton
Date: September 8, 2023
Tournament: US Open 2023
Round: Semifinal
Venue: New York, United States
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Hard
Prize money: $65,000,000
Live telecast: USA - ESPN | Canada - TSN | UK - Sky Sports | India - Sony Sports
Novak Djokovic vs Ben Shelton preview
Former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will square off against Ben Shelton in the semifinals of the 2023 US Open on Friday.
Djokovic ousted Alexandre Muller, Bernabe Zapara Mirrales, Laslo Djere and Borna Gojo to set up a quarterfinal date against Taylor Fritz. The first set was a walk in the park for the Serb as he dropped just one game in it.
A lone break of serve sealed the second set in Djokovic's favor as well. He struck first in the third set to go 4-3 up, but Fritz broke back to level the score. The 36-year old snagged another break to lead 5-4 and proceeded to serve out the match in the following game to win 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
Shelton scored wins over Pedro Cachin, Dominic Thiem, Aslan Karatsev and Tommy Paul to reach the last eight, where he faced Frances Tiafoe. The 20-year old reeled off five straight games from 2-1 to capture the first set.
Tiafoe responded by taking the second set to level the proceedings. The third set had both players struggling to hold serve, with six breaks of serve between them. The set eventually went into a tie-break, with Shelton recovering after losing a couple of set points to still clinch the set.
Shelton started the fourth by snagging a break of serve. He maintained his composure and broke his opponent's serve once again to win the match 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2.
Novak Djokovic vs Ben Shelton head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between them, so the head-to-head stands at 0-0 for now.
Novak Djokovic vs Ben Shelton odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Novak Djokovic vs Ben Shelton prediction
Djokovic's level was slightly below his best, but it was still enough for him to get past Fritz in straight sets. He won 68% of his first serve points, but the five double faults were higher than his usual standards. The Serb hit 25 winners, with his unforced error count being almost on par with it.
Shelton put up a fearless performance to send Tiafoe packing. He blasted 50 winners compared to 34 unforced errors. The young American has now reached his maiden Grand Slam semifinal.
Meanwhile, Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer's record of most Major semifinal appearances with his win, reaching this stage for the 47th time. While Shelton is known for his flashy game, he could find it tough to wear down the Serb's defenses.
Shelton's not the one to hold back either on his serve or groundstrokes, even on the most important points. It's a double-edged sword, but the strategy has worked out for him so far.
Djokovic is comfortable with taking charge as well as playing on the backfoot. His adaptability is what makes him one of the best to ever play the game. Shelton's the underdog in this match-up and free from the burden of expectations, but the odds are overwhelmingly in the Serb's favor.
Pick: Novak Djokovic to win in straight sets.
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