Australian Open: Ben Shelton vs J.J. Wolf Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Australian Open as Ben Shelton takes on J.J. Wolf in the fourth round on Monday, January 23, 2023.

We are guaranteed a first-time American quarterfinalist at the 2023 Australian Open. But will it be the left-handed Ben Shelton or the swashbuckling style of J.J. Wolf that comes out on top?

If you have been an ardent fan of the Challenger Tour, you have seen enough of Ben Shelton. The 20-year-old’s first trip outside US soil has been truly unforgettable and he is not ready to return home just yet. Shelton, who won three straight Challenger titles towards the end of last year, is into the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time. Another victory over compatriot J.J. Wolf could take him to the cusp of greatness on his debut appearance at Melbourne Park.

J.J. Wolf, meanwhile, has also broken new ground with this run to the fourth round of the Australian Open. Wolf held off the challenge of lucky loser Michael Mmoh in the previous round, and on the evidence of that performance, might be the slight favorite going into his match against Ben Shelton.

Ben Shelton and J.J. Wolf have not played each on the ATP Tour. Monday’s fourth-round match at the Australian Open will be their first official meeting. Judging by their projected rise in the rankings after the tournament, we will see a lot more of this matchup in the coming months. Wolf is almost certain of cracking the top 50, he’s played fantastically well on hard courts from the backend of 2022 and has carried that momentum to his maiden main draw appearance at Melbourne Park. Shelton, for his part, has played fearless tennis, with his serve continuing to be a bedrock as is his forehand. Wolf is no slouch in the power department either, clocking serves above 130 mph. His experience at Tour level will also be critical, ultimately it may come down to who holds his nerves better in key moments. Right now, I’ll give the edge to Shelton who was phenomenal in dispatching Popyrin on enemy territory.