Ben Shelton and Alex de Minaur are like oil and vinegar.

While Shelton’s game is built on his powerful serve, athleticism, and an improving all-around game, de Minaur earns his keep through his relentlessness, speed, and shot-making.

They are a perfect metaphor for what makes tennis such a wonderful sport. They couldn’t be more different as players, but here they are meeting for the first time in their careers, ranked  No. 7 and No. 8 in the world.

Shelton, who is the slightly higher-ranked competitor, is actually the underdog on Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Masters in Toronto.

The odds are pretty tight by tennis standards – de Minaur is -175 to win the match – and are likely influenced by the amount of time Shelton has spent on the court compared to his Aussie counterpart.

Shelton has won in three sets in back-to-back matches, spending exactly five hours on court between the two contests. 

De Minaur, who is coming off a title at ATP Washington, benefited from a walkover in the Round of 32 before dispatching Frances Tiafoe in his previous match. 

De Minaur is always a dangerous player because of his tireless work ethic, but it becomes even trickier to beat him when he’s got a full tank.

The good news for Shelton is that his game is predicated on keeping things moving and using his serve to win quick, cheap points. That should mute de Minaur’s edge in fitness quite a bit.

Both of these players are built for this part of the calendar, and there’s no reason to believe this will be a rout in either direction.

The Play: Over 23.5 Games (-110, bet365)

Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.