ATP Halle - Ben Shelton v Lorenzo Sonego Prediction, Tips and Bet Builder

Ben Shelton will want a good showing at Halle in the next week to confirm his status as a serious contender for the Wimbledon title.

The American was due to face Nick Kyrgios in the first round in Germany, but the Australian was a late withdrawal, so he will now come up against Lorenzo Sonego instead.

The Lucky Loser has a losing record against Shelton, with the pair meeting at last year’s Wimbledon, but should provide a stern test for the world number five.

Ben Shelton v Lorenzo Sonego Tips Summary

Best Bet - Ben Shelton to win 2-1 @ 12/5
Alternative Bet - 1st Set Total Games - Over 9.5 @ 4/9
Bet Builder - Ben Shelton to win / 15+ Match Aces / Shelton to win first set 6-4 @ 7/1

Ben Shelton v Lorenzo Sonego Prediction

Best Bet - Ben Shelton to win 2-1 @ 12/5

Shelton goes into the Halle Open after claiming victory in Stuttgart last week, beating compatriot Taylor Fritz in the final.

That was his first grass-court tournament success, but he has shown in recent years that he can shine on this surface.

The 23-year-old has made real strides in recent years, reaching the second round, fourth round, and then the quarter-finals at Wimbledon over the last three years.

Shelton now comes up against a player he has faced on five previous occasions on the ATP Tour, in the experienced Italian Sonego.

The American has won four of those five match-ups, with four of the meetings coming in Grand Slam events.

Last year’s last-16 meeting at SW19 was the most recent clash, plus the only previous match on grass, with Shelton running out a winner in four sets - 3-6, 6-1, 7-6, 7-5.

Sonego, who’s only win over his opponent came at the 2023 French Open, has taken at least a set off Shelton in all of their previous meetings.

Alternative Bet - 1st Set Total Games - Over 9.5 @ 4/9

It’s worth noting that four of the five previous first-sets between the pair have gone over the 9.5 game target, with Sonego’s 6-3 success at Wimbledon the only one to fall short.

There have been two tie-breaks in their last three encounters, with Shelton winning both, the 2025 Wimbledon clash and the 2025 Australian Open.

All four of Shelton’s matches at Stuttgart saw the first set go beyond nine games, while eight of his last 20 first sets have gone to tie breaks.

Ben Shelton v Lorenzo Sonego Bet Builder 

• Ben Shelton to win

• 15+ Match Aces

• Shelton to win first set 6-4
  
  Pays @ 7/1

After his win last week, Shelton will be full of confidence going into his first-round clash at Halle, even though he has never played at this event before.

This will certainly be a different test than the one he would have been posed by Kyrgios and probably a trickier encounter for the man from Atlanta.

Shelton ranks sixth on Tour for serving this season, with a first-serve percentage of 66.5 and 76.9% first-serve points won.

The Australian Open quarter-finalist averages 10.9 aces per match, while Italian number seven Sonego averages 6.4.

Three of the five meetings between the two players have seen Shelton take the first set 6-4, which suggests the opener will be a tight affair.

Shelton also won the first set 6-4 in Sunday’s Stuttgart final win over Fritz, who is ranked 56 places above Wednesday’s opponent.

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Key Match Stats

• Ben Shelton has won 23 of his 31 matches on the ATP Tour so far this year.

• Lorenzo Sonego has failed to win back-to-back matches on Tour this season.

• Sonego has been beaten by Alexander Zverev in the last two Halle Opens, but did take a set off the German last year.

• No American has ever won the title at Halle - a tournament that began in 1993.

• Shelton’s four matches at Stuttgart last week averaged 33 games.

• Sonego has a grass-court singles title to his name, after victory at the Antalya Open back in 2019.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.