We have reached Sunday at ATP Stuttgart, and boy, do we have a compelling final in store. No. 1 seed Ben Shelton squares off against compatriot and No. 2 seed Taylor Fritz for grass-glory in Germany’s sixth-biggest city. After underwhelming clay seasons, a title would go a long way for the victor on Sunday. As always, we at LWOT preview and predict the final in Stuttgart. But who will raise the trophy?
ATP Stuttgart Final Prediction
Ben Shelton vs Taylor Fritz
Head-to-Head: Shelton 2-1 Fritz
American men are sure glad the clay season is over, aren’t they? As we move onto the grass, the top two Americans will square off in the ATP Stuttgart final, looking to add yet another trophy to their trophy case.
Taylor Fritz won this event last season. In fact, he has been nearly unbeatable on grass since the start of 2024, posting a 26-4 record on the surface over that span. After posting a 0-2 record on the dirt this season, you know Fritz was hungry and ready to roll when the calendar flipped.
Although Shelton has not seen the same grass-court success in his young career, his game is perfectly tailored to the surface. His lefty serve skids off the ground, staying low to the ground and making advantageous returns nearly impossible. He gets to the net well and has shown better movement and comfort level on the surface in every passing year.
Both men have been fallible this week at ATP Stuttgart; Shelton has dropped three sets in three matches, Fritz, two. That said, expect a fun and competitive match when these two take the court on Sunday. The groundstrokes will be clean, the serves blistering, and the variety high, as I expect a fair number of net approaches on both sides.
I would be surprised if this match does not go the distance, with a few breakers mixed in. That said, three crucial points have me leaning toward a Fritz victory.
He is one of the best grass-court players in the world; his failures on the dirt clearly linger in his mind, and he wants revenge for his loss to Shelton in the Dallas final back in February.
Prediction: Fritz in 3
Main Photo Credit: Peter van den Berg – USA TODAY Sports
