Ben Shelton is back to the fourth round of the Shanghai Masters once again after defeating Roberto Carballes Baena in straight sets 6-1, 6-3. The two players had to wait for their match due to the rain issues that seriously disrupted the schedule. They were supposed to play over the weekend but the match was postponed until Tuesday.
In the last 16, the American Ben Shelton will, again, face the same opponent he defeated last year. He will play against the top-seeded player Jannik Sinner. In 2023, Shelton ticked off another milestone in his breakthrough season by upsetting Sinner to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal. How will this match unfold?
Ben Shelton Showed No Rust Despite Schedule
Ben Shelton seems to be enjoying the post-US Open part of the tennis calendar. Although he lost in the quarterfinals to the eventual winner of the Japan Open in Tokyo, the American youngster has recorded a positive result in Shanghai. His journey has continued into the fourth round in China.
Despite the rain interrupting his playing schedule, Ben Shelton still showed no rust on the game. He pushed Carballes Baena to the limit. The 21-year-old Shelton was able to control his serve easily to win the opening set 6-3. Shelton had an impressive record on his serving stats. He hit eight aces and won 94% of rallies after his first serve. He also hit his first serve in play 73% of the time.
Sinner Had Rough Road To Fourth Round
Top-ranked Jannik Sinner overcame a one-set deficit to rally to a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2 win against Tomas Martin Etcheverry to book a place in the fourth round. A night after winning his 250th career match with a straight-sets victory, the 23-year-old Italian faced a much sterner third-round test against the No. 37 Argentine. They played under the roof inside Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena which hosted play due to rain.
Despite the slow start, Sinner has made the quarterfinals or better at each of the Masters 1000 events he has played in 2024. The World No. 1 also hasn’t lost against Shelton on the ATP Tour since his loss at the Shanghai Masters last year. Sinner leads the head-to-head series 3-1.
A Rematch Once Again For Sinner and Shelton
Ben Shelton and Sinner will meet in a fight for the quarterfinal spot again this year. Sinner had a great advantage with his schedule heading into this marquee match. Sinner was able to play his matches without any trouble from the rain while Ben Shelton had the opposite luck that forced him to play matches on back-to-back days. Still, Shelton will fancy his chances, and should he win, he will certainly want to make it past the quarterfinals. Last year, his compatriot Sebastian Korda stopped him in that stage. Shelton looks for a breakthrough win in Shanghai, but the world’s top player is standing in his way.
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