On August 3, 2025, fourth-seeded Ben Shelton will face 13th seed Flavio Cobolli in the fourth round of the National Bank Open, held at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, Canada. This ATP Masters 1000 event, played on hard courts, features a substantial prize pool of $9,193,540, with live coverage available on Tennis Channel, Sky Sports, and TSN.

This match presents a critical step in Shelton’s Canadian Open journey, and the Ben Shelton Canadian Open preview suggests he aims to secure a straight-set victory against Cobolli to advance further.

Reviewing Shelton’s and Cobolli’s Seasons Leading to the Match

Ben Shelton entered the 2025 season with mixed results, starting with an early loss at the ASB Classic but recovering to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open. There, he defeated top contenders like Brandon Nakashima, Pablo Carreño Busta, Lorenzo Musetti, Gael Monfils, and Lorenzo Sonego before falling to Jannik Sinner in straight sets.

Following the Australian Open, Shelton experienced ups and downs: consecutive third-round exits in Dallas and Acapulco against Jaume Munar and David Goffin, respectively; a strong quarterfinal finish at Indian Wells; and a shock first-round defeat to Coleman Wong in Miami. His North American series began two weeks prior in Washington, where he impressed by beating Mackenzie McDonald, Gabriel Diallo, and Frances Tiafoe, eventually losing to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the semifinals.

In Toronto’s ongoing Masters event, Shelton has already overcome Adrian Mannarino and Brandon Nakashima, demonstrating form that makes him a formidable contender.

Conversely, Flavio Cobolli’s year began poorly at the ATP level, starting 0-7 with several early exits and winning just three sets in the first 11 weeks. However, the Italian showed resilience by capturing titles on clay at the Bucharest Open and Hamburg Open. On grass, Cobolli impressed with a quarterfinal run at Wimbledon.

Following a third-round exit at the Citi DC Open, Cobolli has bounced back at the Canadian Open with wins over Alexis Galarneau and Fábián Marozsán.

Head-to-Head Record and Statistical Edge

The head-to-head matchup between Shelton and Cobolli currently favors Cobolli, who leads 2-1 overall. Despite this, the ranking and recent form heavily favor Shelton as the favorite for the upcoming match.

Odds from BetMGM also reflect Shelton in a stronger position. There are several statistical advantages for Shelton, including a significantly higher win percentage at 68.2%, compared to Cobolli’s 37.5% in 2025.

Shelton’s service game is particularly notable: he averages nearly double the number of aces per match and commits fewer double faults. Furthermore, he converts a higher percentage of first serves and wins more points on both his first and second serves, giving him a clear edge heading into this contest.

Forecast for the Canadian Open Fourth-Round Encounter

Considering his ranking, serving superiority, and consistency, Ben Shelton is poised to secure a straight-sets victory against Flavio Cobolli in their Canadian Open showdown. This win would sustain Shelton’s momentum in the tournament and position him well for a deep run in the ATP Masters 1000 event.

The match also carries broader importance as both players aim to gain crucial ranking points and confidence ahead of the US Open Series. Shelton’s performance in Toronto could underline his rising status as a key player on hard courts this season.