Stefanos Tsitsipas predicts bright future for Jordanian talent Abdullah Shelbayh

World No 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas has heaped praise on Jordanian up-and-comer Abdullah Shelbayh, predicting a bright future for the young tennis talent.

The 20-year-old Shelbayh fell in the second round of qualifying at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid earlier this week, but stuck around at the Caja Magica to train with his Spanish coach Fernando Verdasco and get a chance to hit with the best players in the world.

Shelbayh got to practise with Tsitsipas several times this week and the Greek star likes what he has seen so far from the Jordanian lefty.

“I really believe he's a top-100 player in the future, and I'm pretty convinced he can be top 50, as well,” said Tsitsipas on Saturday.

“Now, I think the barrier between a top-50 player and top 100, there is some work to be done there in order to get to the top 50. I would love to see him succeed and be good, because I really support small countries like this that make it big in tennis. I have come from one myself.”

Shelbayh, who played at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah last year and peaked at 181 in the world rankings earlier this season, is the first Jordanian player to compete in or win a match on the ATP Tour.

“He's a good kid. I really like him,” added Tsitsipas of the Rafa Nadal Academy graduate.

“I haven't absorbed too much of how he goes about his training regimen and his workouts, but if he's really dedicated, and if he really sets his mind to the goals that he wants to achieve and the hunger to become better, I'm pretty sure we're going to see him in the top 50 pretty soon.

“But so far we have had a few chats. He's eager to learn, which is a good sign. So I wish him the best. I hope we can practise a bit more in the future.”

There has been an Arab feel to the