Ben Shelton vs Novak Djokovic – Semi-Final – Preview & Prediction | 2023 US Open
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THE FACTS
When is Ben Shelton vs Novak Djokovic on and what time does it start? Ben Shelton vs Novak Djokovic will take place on Friday 8th September, 2023 – not before TBC (UK)
Where is Ben Shelton vs Novak Djokovic taking place? Ben Shelton vs Novak Djokovic will take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, USA
What surface is Ben Shelton vs Novak Djokovic being played on? Ben Shelton vs Novak Djokovic will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Ben Shelton vs Novak Djokovic? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Ben Shelton vs Novak Djokovic
What channel is Ben Shelton vs Novak Djokovic on in the UK? The US Open will be televised live on the Sky Sports
Where can I stream Ben Shelton vs Novak Djokovic in the UK? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the 2023 US Open live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
20-year-old Ben Shelton will break the top 20 on tour for the first time no matter the outcome of this biggest match of his life after a huge four-set victory over Frances Tiafoe on Tuesday. Shelton reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open as a precocious, powerful debutante back in January but he brought a 12-20 record into New York after suffering a series of harsh lessons on his first experience of ATP tour life.
World number two Novak Djokovic beat Taylor Fritz for the eighth time out of eight and in straight sets for the seventh with an assured performance on Tuesday. The 36-year-old reached a 47th Grand Slam semi-final in doing so to take the outright lead in that category from Roger Federer and he is one match away from a battle for a record-extending 24th Grand Slam title on Sunday. Djokovic came back from a set down to beat Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling Cincinnati Open final last month, avenging his five-set defeat at Wimbledon, to make the prospect of a rematch here tantalising to say the least.
THE PREDICTION
20-year-old Ben Shelton proved himself one to watch in Melbourne with a wonderful debut run to the quarter-finals but he set out his stall as a future contemporary of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune with his remarkable win over Frances Tiafoe on Tuesday. The powerful left-hander certainly has the tools to trouble three-time former champion Novak Djokovic here but the Serb has almost as many years’ experience at this stage of a major tournament than Shelton has years on this Earth and he has seen off countless players like the young upstart in his time. Djokovic has dropped sets this campaign but actually fewer than usual at the last major of the year. A lot of this result rests on the support Ben Shelton gets, what it does for him, and how it affects his opponent. Likely: a lot, positively, but even more positively for the Serb through determination. Back Djokovic to win outright, probably in four.
