ATP Jaime Faria ATP Cincinnati 2026 Ben Shelton

Jaime Faria, after defeating Shelton in Cincinnati: "I work for moments like this"

Fernando Murciego - 17 Aug 2026
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Jaime Faria, after defeating Shelton: "I work for moments like this." Source: Getty

Jaime Faria was still trying to grasp what he had just achieved in Cincinnati when the microphone from TennisTV appeared in front of him. The Portuguese player, ranked 79th in the world, defeated Ben Shelton and pulled off one of the major surprises of the tournament. Just a few minutes after the victory, Faria explained the significance of a win that marks the first of his career against a top 10 player and could signal a turning point in his season.

"It's a very exciting moment for me and my team," admitted the Portuguese player. Faria also highlighted the setting and the opponent he faced. "Doing it here, at night, and against a player like him makes it even more special." Shelton arrived in Cincinnati ranked 6th in the world and as the champion of the Masters 1000 in Canada, but he could not extend his extraordinary form.

This upset came thanks to an exceptional Faria, a man who did not hide that the road to this victory had not been easy. The Portuguese started the year with difficulties and had to rethink his approach to competition in an attempt to return to the top 100. "I didn't start the year particularly well; in my head, I was just trying to get back to the top 100," he explained. The solution involved changing his mentality and focusing more on daily work: "I improved my mindset, worked harder, and concentrated more on the process," he noted. A transformation that is now beginning to bear fruit in one of the most important settings on the calendar.

The turning point of the match came in the second set, where Faria was trailing 1-4. At that point, he managed to turn the match around and won five consecutive games to close out the match. "When things are meant to happen, they happen, and that's why I'm so happy," he said, still incredulous as he recalled the events. At the age of 23, Faria achieved the biggest victory of his career this Monday, demonstrating that the mindset shift he speaks of may have started to transform his tennis just when he needed it most.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jaime Faria, tras tumbar a Shelton en Cincinnati: “Trabajo para momentos como este”