The 2025 Citi Open in Washington, D.C., delivers a really decent quarterfinal on Friday as No. 4 seed Ben Shelton faces No. 6 seed Frances Tiafoe on Stadium Court. This all-American hard-court clash feature two big servers in great form on the US hard courts. Here’s a quick look at their form, head-to-head, our predictions and what to expect tonight.
Player Form
Ben Shelton (World No. 8) is in top shape, going 25-15 in 2025 with a Munich final and Wimbledon quarterfinal. At Washington, he cruised past Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-4 and Gabriel Diallo 6-3, 6-2, not facing a break point and serving 16 aces against Diallo. His powerful lefty serve and aggressive play are clicking on these fast courts.
Frances Tiafoe (World No. 11) thrives in D.C. as always, reaching his fourth straight Citi Open quarterfinal. The Maryland native beat Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 and dominated Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 6-4, winning 87% of first-serve points. With a 20-15 record this season, including a Houston final, Tiafoe’s quick hands and crowd support make him dangerous.
Head-to-Head
Shelton leads 2-1. He won the 2023 US Open quarterfinal (6-2, 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-2) and the 2024 Houston final (7-5, 4-6, 6-3), both on clay. Tiafoe fought back at the 2024 US Open, winning 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 in a five-set thriller. This is their first hard-court meeting since 2023, should be another good battle for the viewers.
Betting Odds
- Moneyline: Shelton -200 (1.50) | Tiafoe +150 (2.50)
- Game Spread: Shelton -2.5 (-120/1.85) | Tiafoe +2.5 (-110/1.91)
- Total Games: Over 23.5 (-110/1.91) | Under 23.5 (-120/1.82)
Prediction and Best Bets
The odds from the bookmakers are clearly in favour of Shelton, however, Tiafoe’s home advantage, recent form and also his recent US Open win over Shelton make him a tricky opponent. We know he loves to play aggressive tennis and has a good return game, let’s see how Shelton can deal with it.
These two players know each other very well. Expect a tight match with at least one tiebreak, as both feed off the big stage.
Our best bets: Over 23.5 total games (-110/1.91) and Game Handicap Tiafoe +2.5 at same odds.
