ATP Stuttgart – Thursday’s remaining round of 16 at Stuttgart features Ben Shelton, Nick Kyrgios, and Frances Tiafoe as standout names, with each facing a first-time or familiar opponent while the draw narrows toward the quarterfinals.
The round of 16 at Stuttgart is down to its final set of matches on Thursday, and the court feels like it’s tightening—one more win and the quarterfinals are suddenly close enough to reach.
No. 1 seed Ben Shelton will be one of the players on next in the tournament’s Day 4 slate. He’s joined by 2022 Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios, and also by Frances Tiafoe, who is stepping back onto grass with a clear history behind him.
Jiri Lehecka vs James Duckworth
This meeting is the first between Jiri Lehecka and James Duckworth.
Duckworth came through the opening round by beating local favorite Diego Dedura. Lehecka, meanwhile, entered later after receiving a bye as the No. 4 seed.
Duckworth’s game is described as striking “pretty flat,” with the idea that he can become awkward on grass when everything clicks. Still, the matchup points toward Lehecka—he’s a former runner-up at the Queen’s Club and is framed as the all-around stronger option.
Prediction: Lehecka in 2.
Nick Kyrgios vs Sho Shimabukuro
Kyrgios and Sho Shimabukuro also meet for the first time.
Even with Kyrgios’s grass-court pedigree, his opening-round performance against Corentin Moutet surprised people. The Australian had not played a singles match in over five months, and the piece notes he hasn’t looked the same since 2022, tied to injury issues.
The question isn’t whether Kyrgios can win—it’s how long his level can hold if his body starts to protest again. But if he performs anywhere near what he showed against Moutet, he’s expected to advance.
Prediction: Kyrgios in 2.
Ben Shelton vs Marcos Giron
Ben Shelton and Marcos Giron have met before, with the head-to-head standing at Shelton 2-2 Paul.
Shelton’s serve is treated as the hinge of the match. The expectation is that it will do the heavy lifting on grass, especially because Giron is seen as not having quite the baseline game to trouble him.
With grass shaping the dynamics and the top seed already positioned as the tougher opponent across the important moments, the outlook stays firmly in Shelton’s direction.
Prediction: Shelton in 2.
Frances Tiafoe vs Rinky Hijikata
Frances Tiafoe and Rinky Hijikata have played each other before, with Tiafoe holding the head-to-head 3-1.
Tiafoe has already beaten Hijikata this year on both hard and clay courts. Grass doesn’t suit Tiafoe in the same way as those surfaces, but it’s still not a blank slate: he was the 2023 champion in Stuttgart.
Hijikata is not expected to roll over. The prediction acknowledges he should make it uncomfortable. But the core of the case for Tiafoe is that Hijikata is described as lacking a significant weapon to disrupt him.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 2.
By Thursday night, the tournament’s field should look very different than it does now. After this set of round-of-16 matches, the quarterfinals won’t be a distant idea anymore—it’ll be the next step for the players who can convert pressure into points.
ATP Stuttgart Day 4 predictions Ben Shelton Nick Kyrgios Frances Tiafoe Jiri Lehecka James Duckworth Sho Shimabukuro Marcos Giron Rinky Hijikata
Nick Kyrgios better not pull another “injury” thing again.
I don’t even know these guys half the time but Stuttgart tennis sounds kinda intense. If Shelton is #1 seed then why is it even close?
Wait Lehecka vs Duckworth… I thought Duckworth was like a doubles guy? The article says Duckworth’s game is “pretty flat” and that makes him awkward on grass?? Isn’t flat the opposite of awkward lol. Anyway I’m just hoping somebody local wins, I guess.
Kyrgios hasn’t played singles in over five months and they’re acting like he’s gonna just be fine. Like yeah grass helps but if he “hasn’t looked the same since 2022” isn’t that the whole point? Also “one more win and the quarterfinals are close” sounds like every tennis preview ever, just say who you like. I’ll take Kyrgios in 2… unless his body protests again, then it’s whoever was next on the draw.