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Shelton vs Jódar: fresh ATP Finals clash, no history to lean on

A first meeting between two contrasting form lines as the ATP Finals serve up an unknown quantity.

By Pred1xPublished How we produce our articles
ENESPT
ATP Finals

ATP Finals

TENNIS
KICK-OFF10:30TUE17/11
Ben Shelton
Ben Shelton
VS
Rafael Jódar
Rafael Jódar

Recent form

Ben SheltonLWWBen Shelton: L-W-W in the last 3 games.
Rafael JódarLWLRafael Jódar: L-W-L in the last 3 games.
Ben Shelton 0-2 Carlos AlcarazLuca Van Assche 1-2 Ben SheltonBen Shelton 2-1 Tommy PaulCasper Ruud 2-0 Rafael JódarAlejandro Tabilo 0-2 Rafael JódarAlejandro Davidovich Fokina 2-1 Rafael Jodar

Ben Shelton and Rafael Jódar meet at the ATP Finals on November 17, and for once the record books offer no clues: these two have never met, so Tuesday's match writes the first line of a brand-new rivalry.

Head to head

The form lines tell different stories. Shelton arrives with momentum despite a stumble — L-W-W in his last three, bouncing from a 0-2 loss to Carlos Alcaraz straight into wins over Luca Van Assche (2-1) and Tommy Paul (2-1). Jódar, by contrast, walks in on L-W-L, beaten 2-0 by Casper Ruud in his most recent outing after a 2-0 win over Alejandro Tabilo and a tight 2-1 defeat to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Watchlist
  • Shelton's response to the Alcaraz defeat, having already shown he can grind out three-setters against Van Assche and Paul.
  • Whether Jódar's clean 2-0 win over Tabilo resurfaces, or the Ruud loss defines his week.
  • A first-ever meeting — no tactical blueprint exists, so the opening set does double duty as reconnaissance.

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