Shelton: From Glory in Canada to Disaster in Cincinnati
Just a few days after winning his second Masters 1000 in Montreal, Ben Shelton falls on his side in his debut at the Cincinnati Masters against Jaime Faria, an opponent he had never beaten in his career among the top 10.
What a way to end the day at the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati. Ben Shelton, the newly crowned world number 6 and recent champion in Montreal, had two very pompous stats that served him little on the court against Jaime Faria (6-4, 6-4). A surprising loss that reinforces the idea of the current toughness of the circuit in maintaining consistency.
From qualies to R3 🔥
The moment Jaime Faria earned his first Top 10 win and reached the third round at a Masters 1000 for the first time. #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/Ay3HmoC7KY— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 17, 2026
The blow is even greater because of the context. Shelton had just won Montreal only three days earlier, extending his extraordinary form and presenting himself in Cincinnati as one of the most dangerous players in the draw. However, the American showed clear signs of physical fatigue and never found the energy needed to stop a rival who played with extraordinary conviction. Faria, 23, took advantage of every opportunity and played one of the best matches of his career. The Portuguese had reached the main draw after coming through qualifying and was only playing his third Masters 1000. Now, for the first time, he finds himself in the third round of a tournament of this category.
A comeback that explains the magnitude of the surprise
Speaking of the match, it is worth noting that not everything was lost for Shelton, at least not in the second set. It was right at that moment when the crowd believed in a comeback, just when Ben seemed to find the momentum of the match, leading 4-1 on the scoreboard, but Faria remained composed. The Portuguese strung together five consecutive games to turn the set around and close the match quickly. It was a demonstration of character against a player who had come in full force after winning the Canadian title.
The victory also represents Faria's biggest win of his career to date. It is his first success against a top 30 player, and it also marks his first victory against a top 10 player. For Portuguese tennis, it is one of the most important victories in its recent history, as we are not dealing with a country that often places its players in such renowned territories.
Shelton departs Cincinnati with an unexpected loss just days after lifting another Masters 1000, a news item that reaffirms the harshness of this demanding schedule. Between Montreal and Cincinnati, there was barely any time to recover, travel, and return to compete at the highest level. Meanwhile, Faria will enjoy a night today that he will hardly forget.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shelton, de la gloria en Canadá al desastre en Cincinnati