The Cincinnati Masters are here, with two Americans going against each other in the first round. Ben Shelton and Reilly Opelka are ready to face each other in the first round of the event. However, even though the match is still a day away, Paul Annacone pulled a jab at the first-round clash regarding what the match would be a not-so-easy encounter.

Following his fourth-round exit from Wimbledon, Shelton returned to the United States to resume the hardcourt swing as he opted not to participate in the Paris Olympics. Shelton’s first tournament was the Atlanta Open, where he received a first-round bye as the top seed. However, he failed to win a match as he was upset by Shang Juncheng in the second round.

On the other hand, this will be the first time that both Americans will go against each other on the tennis court. Subsequently, talking about their clash in ‘Tennis Channel Life Podcast,’ Annacone was asked to share his take on the first-round match.

While answering, Annacone went the other way and took a jab at both players. He stated, “I mean, it’s got to be the first one. We have not seen Riley Opelka very much. He’s finally back and healthy playing Ben Shelton. There’s going to be there’s gonna 38 more more than that.”

Not only that, he also mentioned the question, “How many rallies over six shots?” Annacone joked about how these towering players rack up over 30 aces in a match. With barely any rallies extending beyond six shots, Annacone humorously pointed out that watching them play can feel more like a serving match than a traditional tennis match.

Ben Shelton made a kind yet playful comment regarding Reilly Opelka’s tennis prowess earlier this year. Shelton couldn’t help but voice his surprise when Opelka, who hadn’t participated in a tour-level event in two years, had an incredible run to the 2024 Hall of Fame Open quarterfinals in Newport.

He praised Opelka’s performance, writing, “How nasty is Reilly Opelka at this sport… how does someone do this after 2 years not playing.” Amidst the buzz of the tournament, Shelton revealed a surprising and lesser-known side of Cincinnati that caught everyone’s attention.

Ben Shelton exposes a rare sight in Cincinnati

Ben Shelton saw a car parked carelessly in the lot, far outside the permitted limits, when he got to his hotel in Cincinnati ahead of his first game. The 21-year-old, who found the scenario amusing, resorted to social media to criticize the player for the “outrageous” parking job and make the argument that they shouldn’t be permitted to drive.

Shelton humorously remarked, “Hey, I just wanna say. I just pulled into the parking garage at the hotel in Cincinnati and whoever’s got car No. 164, you should not have a license.” While showing the poorly parked car, he added, “I’m sorry, you shouldn’t be able to drive. This is a disgrace. I mean, look at this, bruh. That’s outrageous. You should not be driving a car.” He wrapped up the story with a playful question, “Which player got this car tho?”

On the professional front, Shelton, the rising star, and Opelka, the seasoned giant, share a mutual respect, often exchanging light-hearted banter and support. However, when they step onto the court, the friendly rivalry will give way to an intense battle, with each player eager to outdo the other. Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on the upcoming clash? Do let us know in the comment section below.