Estoril Open 2023: Thiem vs Shelton Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Estoril Open second-round match featuring Dominic Thiem vs Ben Shelton on Thursday, April 6, 2023.

Thiem vs Shelton Match Preview

The action promises to be fast and furious at the 2023 Estoril Open when former US Open champion Dominic Thiem takes on the rising star of American tennis Ben Shelton. Who will prevail?

It will be a blockbuster of a second-round match at the Estoril Open. Dominic Thiem, two-time Roland Garros finalist faces a big test of his mini resurgence this week against Ben Shelton. An opening-round win over countryman Sebastian Ofner was a great start for Thiem, but it doesn’t clear up all his problems. It has been a helter-skelter of a season for Thiem who scored just his second win of 2023, coming from behind to defeat Ofner 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Ben Shelton, meanwhile, scored the first win on clay on the main tour. He did so on his debut at the 2023 Estoril Open, beating France’s Costant Lestienne 7-5, 7-5. Shelton admitted to feeling nervous, perhaps more than in previous tournament runs, partly because he did not know what to expect on unchartered territory. But he played well and had to be patient for his opportunities here, breaking Lestienne three times and winning 82% first-serve points. He will now battle a wounded Dominic Thiem in the second round.

Thiem vs Shelton Prediction and Pick

Dominic Thiem and Ben Shelton have not played each other on the ATP Tour, with this second-round match at the 2023 Estoril Open being their first meeting. Thiem’s win over Ofner was massive confidence-wise and provides him with the launchpad to go on and build on that throughout the clay swing. Shelton, for his part, was playing on clay for the first time but still looked very impressive. He’s singled out his serve and how the soft clay in Estoril aids his point construction by charging to the net and finishing off points. It’s the one area Thiem will look to exploit and test Shelton’s rally tolerance and make him play one extra ball. But that is easier said than done against one of the best servers in the world’s top 40. Experience gives Thiem an edge, but Shelton will be ready anytime the Austrian drops his guard.