Ben Shelton takes on talented youngster Alexander Blockx in the second round of the BMW Open in Munich. The American overcame good friend Emilio Nava 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3 in a grueling first-round encounter. He could be in for another tricky matchup on Wednesday against Blockx, who has made a strong start to the clay-court swing.
Ben Shelton vs Alexander Blockx Match Details
Date: April 15, 2026
Tournament: BMW Open 2026
Round: Second round (Round of 16)
Venue: MTTC Iphitos, Munich, Germany
Surface: Outdoor clay
Category: ATP 500
Live Telecast: Tennis Channel, Sky Sports, TSN
Shelton vs Blockx Head-to-Head History
This will be the first meeting between these two players on the ATP Tour. Shelton hasn’t had the best of starts to 2026 by his high standards, with his triumph at the Dallas Open being his best result of the year so far.
The American also made the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, but made early exits at Indian Wells and Miami. He was also beaten by Thiago Agustín Tirante in the quarterfinal in Houston.
Shelton had to do it the hard way in the first round of the BMW Open, but his 14 aces and a win percentage of 81% on his second serve helped him get the job done against Nava.
Blockx hasn’t played much main draw tennis on the ATP Tour so far this year, but has shown glimpses of his quality at Challenger events. The 21-year-old also showcased his quality in Monte-Carlo, winning four matches to make the Round of 16, where he lost to Alex de Minaur in two tight sets.
The Belgian started his campaign in Munich with a 7-6(2), 6-2 win over Yannick Hanfmann. He fired 4 aces, broke his opponent’s serve twice, and won 83% of the points on his first serve in a straightforward victory.
Shelton vs Blockx Match Prediction and Pick
Clay is by no means Shelton’s favorite surface, with a 19-17 overall record. And he will certainly have to be wary of an upset against a player who is playing with a lot of confidence at the moment.
Regarded as one of the most promising young players on the ATP Tour, Blockx is playing in his first ATP 500 tournament. Being 6’4” allows him to create difficult angles for his opponents, and his crisp ball striking makes him a tricky player to face on clay.
Despite the threat that Blockx poses, Shelton will fancy his chances of overcoming the challenge on Wednesday. Amid a rankings squeeze in the ATP top-10, he will know all about the importance of a deep run in Munich.
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Shelton also has a decent record at the BMW Open, having reached the final of the ATP 500 tournament last year before losing to Alexander Zverev. He will have his sights set on going one better this time around, and we are backing him to narrowly defeat Blockx to continue his run on clay.
Pick – Shelton in three sets.
