Alright, let’s talk about this Ben Shelton versus Felix Auger-Aliassime matchup. Been turning this one over in my head for a bit, trying to figure out how it might play out. It’s not always about digging through tons of stats, sometimes it’s just watching them play, getting a feel for where they’re at.
So, first thing I did was cast my mind back. I remember watching Shelton quite a bit recently. Kid’s got energy, right? That lefty serve can be a real weapon, comes at you from a different angle. And the sheer power he puts into his groundstrokes, it’s something else. He’s fearless, goes for broke. Sometimes that means errors pile up, sure, but when he’s on, he can blow guys off the court.
Then I thought about Felix. Man, this guy has looked like a world-beater at times. Smooth game, great athlete, got all the shots. Saw him play some incredible matches a year or two back. But lately? Just feels like something’s been missing. Confidence maybe? Seems like he gets tight in big moments, or the unforced errors creep in more than they should for a player of his caliber.
My thought process went something like this:
- Power vs. Consistency (kind of): Shelton brings the thunder. Felix can be consistent and powerful, but hasn’t shown it reliably for a while.
- Serve: Both have big serves. Shelton’s lefty spin is maybe a bit trickier, especially if Felix isn’t returning well.
- Current Form: Shelton seems to be playing with more belief right now, more intensity. Felix is searching for that top gear he used to have.
- Mentality: Shelton looks like he’s having fun, playing free. Felix sometimes looks like he’s carrying the weight of expectations.
I didn’t spend hours crunching numbers or looking at complex analytics. Honestly, I just went with my gut feeling based on what I’ve seen lately. I pulled up some highlights from their recent matches just to refresh my memory on their movement and shot selection under pressure.
My Takeaway: It felt like Shelton’s raw energy and confidence might just edge it. Felix has the higher ceiling maybe, if he finds his best tennis, but based on the here and now, Shelton seems more likely to impose his game.
So, after thinking it through, watching a few clips, just relying on my own observations from following them, I ended up leaning towards Shelton for this one. Could Felix find his form and prove me wrong? Absolutely. That’s tennis. But based on my process today, that’s where I landed.
