On August 24, 2025, the sixth seed Ben Shelton will open his US Open 2025 campaign against Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse. This first-round match takes place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, one of the most prestigious hard-court venues in the world, part of the Grand Slam circuit offering a total prize fund of $90 million.
Performance Background of Ben Shelton
Ben Shelton enters the tournament following a string of notable performances. Earlier this year, he made an impressive semifinal appearance in Melbourne, later reached the final in Munich, and claimed his first Masters 1000 title in Toronto by defeating Karen Khachanov. Despite a strong start in Cincinnati where he won comfortably against Roberto Bautista Agut and Jiri Lehecka, Shelton suffered a straight-sets loss, 6-2, 6-2, to Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals.
Ignacio Buse’s Journey to the US Open Main Draw
Ignacio Buse, mostly competing in ATP Challenger tournaments this season, has faced challenges breaking into main draws of bigger tournaments, falling short in qualifying rounds at Melbourne and Wimbledon. His best recent result came with a semifinal run in Gstaad. Leading into the US Open, Buse secured his main draw spot through qualifiers in Cancun, where he defeated Rei Sakamoto and Kimmer Coppejans with a straight-sets win, 6-3, 6-4, over Coppejans in the final qualifying round.
Previous Matchups and Betting Outlook
The upcoming match marks the first-ever encounter between Shelton and Buse, with no prior head-to-head record. Betting odds for this contest are yet to be published by BetMGM, leaving bettors eagerly awaiting how bookmakers will value Shelton’s favored status against the determined challenger.
Predicted Outcome and Match Significance
Shelton comes into this US Open under the watchful eyes of critics and fans alike, who expect him to carry forward the momentum he has built in recent months. His powerful serve and agile court coverage have troubled many opponents on tour, and with the home crowd’s support in New York, he is expected to advance comfortably through the initial rounds. Meanwhile, Buse has demonstrated resilience and sharp form through qualifiers, not dropping a set in his last three matches, signaling he will challenge Shelton keenly.
Despite the rising challenge posed by Buse, analysts predict Shelton will secure victory, most likely in a competitive three-set match, emphasizing the tense nature of this opening contest in the 2025 US Open.