Two of the most interesting young stars on the ATP tour will square off with each other tonight at the ATP 1000 Mutua Madrid Open. The American Ben Shelton and the Czech, Jakub Mensik, will face off for the third time ever in the round of 32 in Madrid.
Ben and Jakub have played against each other on two occasions on the ATP tour. This is the first match between them on clay. They played for the first time in 2024 at Indian Wells (round of 64), Shelton won in three sets. The previous match between them was played at the start of the season in Auckland (round of 16). Mensik won that one in three sets.
The 23-year-old Mensik is seeded at the 22nd spot in Madrid. Jakub faced the American qualifier Ethan Quinn in the round of 64 and won in two sets, 7-6 (4), 6-1. The match was over after one hour and 21 minutes. Mensik, who plays big, had 14 aces, 25 winners and 22 unforced errors in the match. He converted four out of seven breakpoints. Mensik won 54% of the points in the match.
Shelton, who is 22 years of age, took care of the Argentinian, Navone, in the round of 32. Ben won the match in three sets, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4. The encounter was over after two hours and 20 minutes. The left-handed Shelton won 77% of the points on his serve and 56% on his second serve. Ben faced eleven breakpoints in the match and saved nine of them. Shelton converted two out of five of his own breakpoints. Ben had 27 winners to his 20 unforced errors. Ben Shelton won 53% of the points in the match.
Mensik is ranked at the 23rd position in the world. His biggest achievement of the season was the title at the ATP 1000 Masters in Miami. Mensik defeated his idol, Novak Djokovic, in the final. Jakub had three top-ten wins in Miami — Draper, Fritz, and Novak. He was ranked at number 48 at the start of the year and he is steadily climbing up the ATP rankings. Mensik has won 15 and lost seven matches on the ATP tour in 2025.
Ben has not won a title yet this season but has two to his name so far in his career. Shelton is ranked at the 13th position in the world. Ben has a match record of 15 wins and eight lost games so far in the 2025 season. Last week Shelton reached the final at the ATP 500 in Munich (clay). Shelton lost to Zverev in the final in straight sets. Ben had a great run at the Australian Open where he reached the semifinal but lost to Sinner. Shelton played well at the ATP 1000 Indian Wells Masters too; he got to the quarterfinals.
