Barcelona 2023: McDonald vs Shelton Tennis Prediction and Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Barcelona Open first-round match featuring Mackenzie McDonald vs Ben Shelton on Monday, April 17, 2023.

McDonald vs Shelton Match Preview and Prediction

It’s an all-American clash that promises plenty of intrigue and entertainment when Mackenzie McDonald squares off against Ben Shelton. Who will prevail and advance into the second round of the 2023 Barcelona Open?

Mackenzie McDonald’s start to the clay-court swing didn’t catch fire straightaway, with the American World No. 52 losing a tight three-setter to Ivan Gakhov in Monte Carlo. That was the first time McDonald lost a first-round match this year, in what has been a decent 2023 so far. He’s 14-9 for the season heading to the Barcelona Open and he has drawn fellow American Ben Shelton in his opener.

Ben Shelton, meanwhile, continues to learn and improve on a surface he’s never been fond of. Shelton played and won his first match on clay at the senior tour by beating Constant Lestienne in Estoril. Since then he’s lost a couple of matches. But it has to be said, he never really looked out of it in Monte Carlo where he worried Dimitrov a bit by snatching a set in defeat. Let’s see if he can repeat that display against Mackenzie McDonald at the Barcelona Open.

McDonald vs Shelton Prediction and Pick

Mackenzie McDonald and Ben Shelton have not played each other on the ATP Tour, with this first-round match at the 2023 Barcelona Open being their first meeting. McDonald is the more experienced of the two Americans, but clay is his weakest surface. Shelton is still learning the trade, but you sense from his performances in each of the last two tournaments, he’s got the potential of excelling on clay. The big lefty serve coupled with a huge forehand and a killer backhand slice. That variety should be enough to hurt Mackenzie McDonald.