First-Time Pairing Opelka/Shelton Challenge Dominant Duo Arevalo/Pavic
Top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic open their Queen’s Club campaign against Reilly Opelka and Ben Shelton, marking the first-ever meeting between the two teams. The American pair, both better known for their singles careers, are teaming up in doubles for the first time.
Meanwhile, Arevalo and Pavic, currently ranked world No. 1, bring major firepower. Arevalo owns two French Open titles (2022, 2024), and Pavic completed a career Grand Slam in doubles last year with his Roland Garros win. On paper, it’s a mismatch, with Opelka and Shelton peaking at career-high doubles rankings of No. 89 and No. 68, respectively. But this is grass court tennis, and if there’s one thing the sport loves, it’s a surprise.
Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic are your 2025 Rome men’s doubles champions. 🙌#IBI25 | @atptour | @BNLBNPParibas_ pic.twitter.com/cAL0rW2ZcS
— Internazionali BNL d'Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 18, 2025
Read More: Ben Shelton Joins Taylor Fritz & Tommy Paul to End 19-Year Drought for U.S. Trio in ATP Top 10
Arevalo and Pavic have been one of the most in-form doubles teams this season, capturing titles in Indian Wells, Miami, and Rome. They also reached the Madrid final, falling in straight sets to Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos. Beyond that, the duo has consistently gone deep, with semifinal runs in Adelaide, Rotterdam, and Monte Carlo, along with quarterfinal appearances in Melbourne, Doha, and Geneva. At the French Open, they were halted in the third round, though Arevalo did reach the mixed doubles semifinals alongside Shuai Zhang.
In contrast, Opelka’s return to doubles comes after a long layoff. He was set to make his comeback in Rome with Tommy Paul but withdrew due to a knee injury, making Queen’s his first doubles outing in three years. His last time being in Rome was in 2022. Shelton, meanwhile, has dabbled in doubles this year with a 4-6 record. His best results include quarterfinal runs in Monte Carlo and Munich, both with veteran partner Rohan Bopanna.
| Arevalo/Pavic | Category | Opelka/Shelton |
| 2 / 4 | Doubles Grand Slams | 0 / 0 |
| 0 / 0 | WTA Singles Titles | 4 / 2 |
| 16 / 42 | WTA Doubles Titles | 1 / 0 |
| No. 1 / No. 1 | Current Doubles Ranking | – / No. 124 |
| No. 1 / No. 1 | Career-Best Doubles Ranking | No. 89 / No. 68 |
Arevalo and Pavic have been red-hot this season with multiple titles and deep runs, while Opelka returns after a three-year doubles break and Shelton has limited success. In their first-ever meeting, experience and form should carry the top seeds.
Prediction: Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic in straight sets.
With odds around -278 for Arevalo/Pavic and +200 for Opelka/Shelton, the bookmakers clearly favor the top seeds. It’s their first matchup, and the gap in doubles experience makes the odds justified.
Here are the betting odds for Arevalo/Pavic vs. Opelka/Shelton per WinDrawWin:
Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic: -278
Reilly Opelka/Ben Shelton: +200
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mma I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.
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