Ben Shelton is set to face Learner Tien at Indian Wells. The match feels highly relevant to the state of U.S. men’s tennis at the moment.
Shelton’s Rise in US Men’s Tennis
Shelton has been closing in on the No. 1 men’s ranking among the American men. He’s a couple hundred points behind Taylor Fritz, at No. 8 in the world. Shelton’s recent successes—Masters 1000 title in Toronto, Wimbledon and Australian Open quarterfinals, win over Fritz in the Dallas final—have made it seem like he’s the guy with the biggest upside, the future Slam winner, the star in the making.
During the same time period, Tien has made a similarly impressive rise, from No. 122 at the start of 2025 to No. 27 today. In most ways, he has been a sort of second-tier Shelton. Tien is also a lefty, but he’s three years younger, five inches shorter, hits his serve 20 MPH slower, doesn’t have the same kind of explosive athleticism, and is ranked 20 spots lower.
Tien’s Previous Victory
Yet in their only meeting, last summer on grass in Mallorca, it was Tien who was the superior player and ball-striker. He was the one belting winners into the corners, closing points at net, and coming back from a break down in each set to win in straights.
Shelton Seeks Revenge
Now Shelton has a chance for revenge, and to reassert his place in the American pecking order. But is he ready? In his three-set win over Reilly Opelka on Friday, he looked lethargic, and appeared to grab for his back at times. He was just a couple of points from defeat, and looked resigned to his fate, until Opelka rescued him with a few crucial misses.
Shelton could easily leave that performance in the rearview mirror and come out with guns blazing on Sunday afternoon in Stadium 1. But even so, Tien might be ready for him. Winner: Tien
Sinner vs Shapovalov Preview
Jannik Sinner is also set to face Denis Shapovalov. You might think Shapovalov would be just the kind of guy that Sinner would feast on. The Canadian is a lefty, which means his serve and forehand hook right into Sinner’s excellent two-handed backhand. Shapovalov hits with a ton of pace, which Sinner thrives on. And Shapo’s low-margin attack leaves him vulnerable to cold streaks, something that the clinical Sinner almost never experiences.
Yet for all of that, Shapovalov has troubled Sinner in their two encounters. In 2021, he beat the Italian in a five-set first-rounder at the Australian Open. In 2025, at the US Open, Shapo took the first set 7-5, and pushed Sinner through the next three, before losing all of them. Both matches were exciting shot-making showcases. Last year, Shapo was helped having by little to lose at the start; he could take Sinner’s pace and tee off, without worrying too much about the consequences.
Are we in for a third barn-burner when they meet in Stadium 1 in the late afternoon on Sunday? Sinner.