Shelton vs Mensik Prediction 8 January 2025

Is there a clear favorite in the 1/8 finals match of the competition in Auckland between Ben Shelton and Jakub Mensik? This question is key to our prediction. Note that last spring, the tennis players clashed at the Masters in Indian Wells, where the match did not go without exhausting battles (4-6;6-3;6-4).

Ben Shelton

Shelton still hasn't found consistency despite the experience gained, which has not allowed him to stay in the top-20 of the world rankings. Last season, Ben did not win anything truly significant, only taking a trophy in Houston. Right before the break, the American suffered an unpleasant defeat from Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Davis Cup, facing colossal problems in return games (one break point converted out of four). The athlete still struggles with handling balls on sharp bounces, which hinders taking the initiative at crucial moments.

Jakub Mensik

The end of the vacation was overshadowed for Mensik by a failure at the Next Gen Finals, but after a series of four losses, he bounced back. Jakub remains one of the main talents of the new generation regardless, and apparently, he will continue to progressively improve. The year 2024 was also complicated for the Czech player by a serious elbow injury. Though he fortunately avoided long-term treatment. In New Zealand, the athlete won a tight fight against Pablo Carreno Busta, focusing mainly on a solid serve (1 break and 18 aces).

Editorial Prediction

In our humble opinion, this match is bound to be competitive. The opponents are maximally comparable to each other on all fronts, and we believe they will once again delight fans with a prolonged intriguing thriller with an unexpected ending. A total over is the preferred option for the match.