Australian Open: Ben Shelton vs Lorenzo Musetti; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction

The heat is on at the Australian Open, and the action just keeps getting better! With the first two rounds serving up unforgettable moments, the third round is following suit—and it’s setting the stage for yet another epic showdown. This time, the spotlight shifts to the John Cain Arena, where the two young guns, Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Musettiare all set to battle it out on Saturday. Both bring energy, fire, and talent to the court, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. It’s a clash of iconic styles, with Shelton’s explosive power going up against Musetti’s finesse and flair.

Ben Shelton vs. Lorenzo Musetti: Preview

Ben Shelton played only one match in the build-up to his Australian Open campaign at the ASB Classic. In a surprising outcome, he was ousted by Jakub Mensik in three sets, 6(2)-7, 6-4, 5-7. However, as he entered Melbourne, he ensured that he did not repeat his mistakes and won his first two matches with a flourish. His latest match came against Pablo Carreño Busta of Spain, where despite losing the third set, Shelton managed to rebound back to win, 6-3, 6-3, 6(4)-7, 6-4. The American sensation fired 17 aces in the match with a first-serve win rate of 85%. To boot, were a flurry of sensational shots and an average 1st serve speed of 196 km/h.

Lorenzo Musetti, on the other hand, came to Melbourne fresh off his campaign at the Hong Kong Open where he played two matches before being ousted in the quarterfinals. But in Australia, Musetti demonstrated some great skills and outshined the likes of Matteo Arnaldi and Denis Shapovalov. In his second-round match against Shapovalov, the Italian star depicted his dominance and whisked out his Canadian counterpart in straight sets 7-6(3), 7-6(6), 6-2. With an average first-serve speed of 184 km/h, Musetti managed to win 76% of the first-serve points. Besides, he also received some help from Shapovalov’s 15 double faults, who was struggling immensely in the match, with what looked like a back strain.

Each of the young players have the potential to mount a deep run into the tournament. But as they gear up to face off, one’s chances will fizzle out. Who might that be? Do their past clashes hold an answer?

Shelton vs Musetti: Head-to-Head

The American tennis sensation and the Italian rising star have faced each other twice on the courts so far – one on grass and once on hard. And guess what? It is the more experienced Italian power who has prevailed on both occasions.

• 2023 Queen’s Club R16: Musetti 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
• 2024 Miami Open R32: Musetti 6-4, 7-6(5)

Prediction: Musetti to dominate in four sets

Both, Lorenzo Musetti and Ben Shelton had a remarkable season last year. The American star lifted the trophy in Hoston besides qualifying for the finals in Basel. With a win-loss ratio of 42-26, Shelton navigated some tough moments and proved his mettle on the courts. Musetti, meanwhile, depicted similar prowess. By winning 46 of the total 76 matches he played, he proved that one couldn’t write him off all that easily. He clinched 5 runner-up titles last year, which includes two challengers in Turin and Cagliari. Besides, he reached the finals in Umag, Chengdu, and the Cinch Championship.

If we look at their playing styles, Shelton loves playing an aggressive brand of tennis. He fires off some big serves from his armory which helped him deliver a whopping 619 aces in 2024. Besides, Shelton is also quite consistent and powerful on both the forehand and backhand side. He likes coming up to the net after hitting his powerful groundstrokes to finish off the points – a lethal combination if executed properly.

On the other hand, Musetti also likes attacking his opponents. He can play steadily from the baseline and has a long backswing on both  the forehand and backhand. And while Musetti brings a lot of variety to his game, his biggest weapon is his one-handed backhand shot! Shelton will definitely have to look out for that. Additionally, Musetti’s lead in the head-to-head tally will give him enough confidence in the match. Hence, despite being a thrilling encounter, one can anticipate it might just go in the Italian’s direction, who will win it in four sets.