Recent Play Details

Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul have each made shocking runs to qualify for the Quarterfinals in Melbourne as neither man was on the radar and was expected to fade in week one. They've each played the best tennis of their careers and will have the opportunity to make their first grand slam semi-final. Tommy Paul has been a top tennis prospect since his junior days when he won junior grand slam titles and was hyped up as a future star and champion. Things have yet to go to plan as this is his first career grand slam QF in his 5th entire ATP season, and he has never cracked the world's top 25. Ben Shelton is just 20 years of age with only 13 ATP-level matches under his belt since going pro in 2022 after winning the division 1 NCAA men's singles championship. These guys are much more evenly matched than the odds indicate, with Paul as a decent-sized favourite. It should be either man's match to win, and I expect a gruelling war between the Americans. These two men have been excellent on serve, broken 12 times in 8 matches. Tiebreaks are very much in play, and both men struggle to break. I see an instant classic with both men looking to seize the opportunity of a major SF on the line.