Fourth seed Ben Shelton will take on 12th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the semifinals of the Citi DC Open on July 26. Whoever out of the two wins, will play either seventh seed Alex de Minaur or Corentin Moutet in the tournament’s final.
Shelton has won 26 out of 41 matches so far in the 2025 season, most notably reaching the Australian Open semifinals and the Wimbledon quarterfinals. The American’s first tournament after the grass-court Major was the Citi DC Open, where he received a bye to the second round.
Shelton stared his run in Washington with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Mackenzie McDonald before triumphing 6-3, 6-2 against 15th seed Gabriel Diallo. The 22-year-old then faced sixth seed Frances Tiafoe in the quarterfinals and won 7-6(2), 6-4 to reach his fourth semifinal of the 2025 season.
Davidovich Fokina has won 31 out of 48 matches so far this season, reaching the semifinals of the Monte-Carlo Masters and two finals in Acapulco and Delray Beach. The Spaniard entered the Citi DC Open after suffering defeat in his opening match at the Los Cabos Open.
Davidovich Fokina received a bye to the second round of the ATP 500 event, where he registered a comprehensive 6-4, 6-2 win over compatriot Jaume Munar. The 26-year-old then registered another convincing win, triumphing 6-2, 6-2 over Learner Tien to set up a quarterfinal clash with top seed Taylor Fritz.
The Spaniard won the opening set via a tiebreak before the American took the second 6-3 to force the match into a decider. Both players won five games apiece in the final set before Davidovich Fokina clinched the last two games to register a 7-6(3), 3-6, 7-5 win and reach the semifinals in Washington.
Ben Shelton vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina Head-to-Head
Shelton has won both of his prior encounters with Davidovich Fokina, with the Spaniard winning their most recent clash 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-1 in the opening round of the Monte-Carlo Masters this year.
Match Details
- Fixture: (4) Ben Shelton vs (12) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
- Date: July 26, 2025
- Tournament: Mubadala Citi DC Open
- Round: Semifinals
- Venue: William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center, Washington, D.C
- Category: ATP 500
- Surface: Outdoor hard courts
- Live telecast: Tennis Channel, Fubo, ESPN+, Sky Sports
An ace ends it 💥@BenShelton gets past Frances Tiafoe in two scintillating sets. #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/3MyyrKOAp9
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 26, 2025
Ben Shelton vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina Prediction
Shelton might be the higher-ranked player but Davidovich Fokina has already beaten him twice, including once on hard courts. So, the American will have his work cut out for him.
Shelton’s first numbers have been impressive so far in Washington, amassing 34 aces and winning 83 out of 92 points (90.2%). The American has also served 72 winners compared to 41 unforced errors. Shelton’s serve is a huge weapon and he will look to fetch as many free points as he can. The American loves to play aggressively and will be eager to put the pressure on Davidovich Fokina from the start of the match.
The Spaniard’s first serve numbers in Washington have been anything but impressive, having won 101 out of 151 points (66.9%). Davidovich Fokina has also amassed 67 winners but his unforced errors count of 99 is alarming and he cannot afford to have too many of those against Shelton.
The Spaniard loves to play his shots, and his speed and stamina will come in handy while dealing with Shelton’s intensity. Davidovich Fokina is an impressive returner and will put the American’s serve to test.
While the 26-year-old has won every time he faced Ben Shelton, the latter has a good chance of coming out on top if he is on song.
Prediction: Shelton to win in three sets.
