(Tennis news) With nine losses out of his first 10 matches on the ATP circuit in the first three months of the year, Thiem had a terrible start to the 2023 tour season.

After that, he had trouble making the switch from hardcourts to clay, and he also struggled during this year’s European claycourt swing. Due to his subpar performance, he dropped out of the top 100 men’s rankings.

However, Thiem managed to make it to the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Kitzbuhel in the second half of this year, showing some signs of life. Even though he was defeated in the final by clay court expert Sebastian Baez, the campaign in his home nation seemed to greatly inspire him.

With nine losses out of his first 10 matches on the ATP circuit in the first three months of the year, Thiem had a terrible start to the 2023 tour season.

After that, he had trouble making the switch from hardcourts to clay, and he also struggled during this year’s European claycourt swing. Due to his subpar performance, he dropped out of the top 100 men’s rankings.

However, Thiem managed to make it to the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Kitzbuhel in the second half of this year, showing some signs of life. Even though he was defeated in the final by clay court expert Sebastian Baez, the campaign in his home nation seemed to greatly inspire him.

After that, Thiem took some well-earned time off from the ATP tour to recover so he could compete at the 2023 US Open.

His plan clearly worked, as he displayed some of his greatest tennis in the past two years to overcome the erratic Alexander Bublik in straight sets on Monday in his Flushing Meadows debut.

Head-to-Head

On the ATP tour, Thiem has an advantage of 1-0 over Shelton. During their recent match at the 2023 Estoril Open, Thiem prevailed over his younger opponent with just four games lost.

Predictions

The ATP tour’s Ben Shelton possesses one of the most explosive games ever. The American uses his excellent first serve as a set-up for his erratic left forehand. He also plays with a lot of flair and frequently amazes spectators with beautiful volleys.

Having said that, his choice of strokes can change drastically over a match, and he frequently finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time while attempting to hit big shots.

Thiem, on the other hand, is far more consistent than the starting point. Although his forehand is a shell of what it once was, he still has a lethal one-handed backhand.

This year, the Austrian has been particularly impressed with his down-the-line backhand because of his ability to tenaciously get underneath the ball. Targeting each other’s weaker wings might be the key for both players in this game. Shelton will be at a minor disadvantage with this strategy though, as Thiem will probably find ways to break his double-hander more with his down-the-line backhand and a reliable slice.

Dominic Thiem to win in 3 sets.

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