The American clay court tournament in Houston has now reached the quarterfinal stage. With several tough competitors preparing for their upcoming matches, Ben Shelton and Brandon Nakashima also look forward to a gripping showdown.

Shelton, who has been looking forward to enhancing his experience on the clay court, stands against Nakashima, who has presented amazing performances on the clay courts earlier. With both of them ready to be in their first ever matchup, here are the statistics, odds, and predictions.

Ben Shelton vs. Brandon Nakashima: Preview

Ben Shelton gave fans the perfect idea of his mental toughness through his comeback against Zizou Bergs, in which he bounced back after losing the first set. This ability is crucial for young players like him on the tour, being a backup plan for tough matches.

Along with that, the graph of Shelton’s confidence appears to be on the rise, as he started the year quite well, making it to several quarterfinals along with stunning top players. This shows he’s ready for bigger achievements and is also determined to improve his skills on clay courts, which is clearly visible in his efforts to enhance his performance after a modest season last year.

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On the other side of the court, Brandon Nakashima has been showing consistent improvement by winning matches in Houston with limited efforts and making it to the quarterfinals. This clearly defines his growing form and confidence, which can prove to be a plus point for him.

Making a transition from the Challenger level back to the main tour, Nakashima’s determination can be clearly seen as he works to regain his position among the top players. His massive run for the title in Houston establishes his image as a strong competitor currently.

Shelton vs. Nakashima: Head-to-head

Looking at the head-to-head stats between Ben Shelton and Brandon Nakashima, both players have never faced each other in their careers. While the upcoming quarterfinal at the ATP Houston marks their first-ever showdown, it still remains to be seen who hits for the initial victory.

Prediction: Shelton to win in straight sets

Hopping on to the match prediction, Shelton has an evident edge over Nakashima because of his recent good form and wins on the tour. Also, his strong mental toughness seen in the recent matches adds to his advantage, creating a setup in which Nakashima will have to level up his game and match the competitive standards.

However, Nakashima’s experience playing on clay, like reaching the quarterfinals in Lyon before, also raises the chance of him being a strong competitor to Shelton in the upcoming challenge. This makes their upcoming match a close one, with Shelton standing a chance to gain a victory in straight sets.

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