Ben Shelton entered the 2025 Mallorca Championships as a top seed, thus receiving a direct entry into the second round of the ATP 250 event. The American will start his campaign against fellow American Learner Tien on Wednesday, Jun. 25.
Match Details
- Fixture: Ben Shelton vs Learner Tien
- Date: Jun. 25, 2025
- Tournament: Mallorca Championships presented by Ecotrans Group
- Round: Round of 16 (Second)
- Venue: Santa Ponsa Tennis Academy, Mallorca, Spain
- Category: ATP 250
- Surface: Outdoor Grass
- Live telecast: Tennis Channel (USA)/ Sky Sports (UK)
Ben Shelton vs Learner Tien Preview
Shelton is still looking to build momentum in 2025. The American currently holds an underwhelming 19-13 win-loss record and hasn’t won a title yet. However, Shelton has reached the knockout stages on several occasions this season, highlighted by a runner-up finish in Munich, semifinal appearances at the Australian Open and in Stuttgart, and a quarterfinal run at Indian Wells.
In the clay-court season, Shelton struggled for consistency. Aside from a runner-up finish in Munich, he made early exits in Monte-Carlo, Madrid, and Rome, before advancing to the fourth round at Roland Garros. He started the grass-court swing with a semifinal appearance at the BOSS Open, though his form seemed to dip since then. After a surprising first-round exit at the Queen’s Club Championships, Shelton now awaits his opening match in Mallorca.
Tien, on the other hand, has been struggling this season. His best results were a quarterfinal appearance at the Mexican Open and a fourth-round finish at the Australian Open. Beyond these, the world No. 67 has exited early in most tournaments and currently holds a disappointing 8-13 win-loss record.
Tien-age triumph 🤝
Learner Tien takes out fellow teenager Engel 6-4 6-4 to advance in Mallorca!#MallorcaChampionships pic.twitter.com/jQStVQPMlc
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 23, 2025
Tien started his run on grass at the BOSS Open, where he suffered a second-round defeat after falling to Brandon Nakashima. He couldn’t even qualify for the main draw in Halle after losing to Nicolas Jarry. The American, however, had a strong start in Mallorca, with a straight-set win over Germany’s Justin Engel.
Ben Shelton vs Learner Tien Head-to-Head
Shelton and Tien haven’t faced each other on tour yet. They will meet for the first time on Wednesday in the second round of the Mallorca Championships.
Ben Shelton vs Learner Tien Prediction
Both youngsters are looking to make a statement, but Shelton’s experience on tour gives him an edge over his compatriot in their upcoming encounter. While Tien is still finding his footing and has faced challenges in 2025, Shelton has enjoyed a comparatively stronger season, reaching multiple knockout stages.
It is worth noting, however, that the 19-year-old holds a higher win percentage on grass (62.5%) compared to Shelton’s 47.06%. Still, given Shelton’s status as the top seed and his greater experience, an upset on Wednesday appears unlikely. Additionally, Shelton reached the quarterfinals in Mallorca last year and will be aiming to surpass that result this season.
Pick: Shelton to win in straight sets.
