Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev are going to be the players to watch in Japan. Shelton is on the rise and he can be considered as one of the top favorites to win the local ATP500.
The defending champion is Taylor Fritz who defeated his dear friend Frances Tiafoe in the final in 2022.
Ben Shelton in 2023
WWLLWWLWWW Currently the world no.20, the American played his last match on the 12th of October when he lost to world no.26 Sebastian Korda 6-7(10) 6-2 7-6(6) in the quarter in Shanghai (draw).
Presently, during this year the American owns an overall 23-24 match record. Ben Shelton’s best result of the current season was reaching the semifinal in the Cagliari Challenger and at the U.S. Open.
He is also scheduled to play in Vienna (Erste Bank Open) on the 23rd of October and Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) on the 30th of October.
Taylor Fritz in 2023
LLWLWWWWWW Now ranked no.8, the American played his last match on the 9th of October when he capitulated to world no.130 Diego Schwartzman 6-4 3-6 7-6(5) in the 3rd round in Shanghai (draw).
Until now, during this year the American achieved an overall 51-21 win-loss record. The American conquered 3 titles in 2023 in Australia, Delray Beach and Atlanta.
He is also scheduled to play in Basel (Swiss Indoors Basel) on the 23rd of October and Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) on the 30th of October.
Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz played each other just on 1 occasion. Their actual record is 1-0 for Fritz. When they played, Taylor Fritz won 4-6 6-4 6-3 in the 2nd round in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open) on the 11th of March 2023.
In the following video you can watch the highlights.
Casper Ruud in 2023
LLWLLWWWLW At the moment ranked no.9, Casper played his last match on the 10th of October when he lost to world no.91 Fabian Marozsan 7-6(3) 3-6 6-4 in the 4th round in Shanghai (draw).
During this season Ruud has a 35-20 win-loss record. This year, Ruud clinched 1 title in Estoril. The Norwegian was the finalist at the French Open and in Bastad.
Alexander Zverev in 2023
WLLWWWWLWW At the moment ranked no.10, the German played his last match on the 6th of October when he was overcome by world no.50 Roman Safiullin 6-3 6-1 in the 2nd round in Shanghai (draw).
This season Alexander has a 49-23 win-loss record. Alexander conquered 2 titles in 2023 in Hamburg and Chengdu.
Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev played each other 4 times. The head to head is 2-2. Previously, the last time they competed against each other, Casper Ruud won 6-3 6-4 6-0 in the semifinal in Paris (French Open) on the 9th of June 2023.
In the following video you can watch the key moments of their match.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd8E8va-Fhs
