Clutch guys!

No surprise, we’ve got our two Americans who are strong in the key moments making it to the final. It’s gonna be intense!

How do you tell them apart? Huge quality of service on both sides, and big-time players in money time. On top of that, we’ve got a few physical question marks, with Fritz once again complaining about his elbow in the semi, and Shelton who, quietly, keeps grinding through tough matches. I haven’t looked at the odds yet, and I think Fritz is logically the favorite thanks to his experience and slightly better baseline game. The market can legitimately be wary of the amount of time Ben has spent on court and his tight scorelines, but in his defense, he’s taken out some seriously tough, gritty opponents. He’s a player who holds up really well physically in Grand Slams and has the engine for it, but here it’s a different kind of effort: matches come one after another every day, which could push him into a few fatal inaccuracies. On the other hand, it’s a final, and we know Shelton’s mentality in big moments, whereas Fritz can sometimes stay a bit within himself. So between the physical aspect and a possible “transcendence” from a big-hearted player, I’m torn. Let’s go check the odds!