SHANGHAI: Ben Shelton celebrated his 24th birthday with a straight-sets victory over Daniel Altmaier, booking a Shelton Shanghai Masters third-round spot on Friday.
The American defeated Germany’s Altmaier 6-3, 7-6 (6) in the ATP Masters 1000 event, continuing his strong run of form after finishing runner-up at the US Open in New York.
Shelton dropped only three games in the first set before holding his nerve in a tight second-set tie-break to seal the win. The victory kept his Shanghai campaign alive and gave the home crowd’s new favourite a birthday to remember.
A Davis Cup detour
Shelton has had a busy few weeks since his US Open final defeat to Alexander Zverev at Flushing Meadows. He represented the United States in the Davis Cup straight after the tournament, losing both his singles matches, and also withdrew from the Laver Cup team event.
The American showed no sign of fatigue against Altmaier, serving with authority and attacking the German’s second serve to keep the pressure on throughout.
Shelton Shanghai Masters: chasing the Final Eight
Shelton said he is driven by what lies ahead in the closing weeks of the season, with a place in the Final Eight and a first year-end top-five finish in his sights.
“I think it is a massive motivation. I want to be there playing in the Final eight. I want end of year Top-5 finish for the first time. I think there are a lot of things to look forward to at the end of this year and I am just excited about the position,” Shelton said.
“I am in to be able to compete for something big at the end of the year. I think I am in a good position but I feel there is still a lot of work to do.”
His path through the draw may have become slightly easier after world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament with a right knee injury, announcing that he will miss the remainder of the 2026 season. Novak Djokovic is also out of the Shanghai draw, having been stunned in straight sets by Hubert Hurkacz.
Originally reported by Geo Super.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Ben Shelton?
Ben Shelton turned 24 on Friday, October 9, 2026, and celebrated by winning his second-round match at the Shanghai Masters.
Who did Shelton beat in Shanghai?
Shelton defeated Germany’s Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 7-6 (6) to reach the third round of the Shanghai Masters.
What are Shelton’s goals for the rest of the 2026 season?
Shelton wants to qualify for the season-ending Final Eight and finish the year inside the world’s top five for the first time in his career.
Why is Jannik Sinner not playing in Shanghai?
World number one Jannik Sinner withdrew from the Shanghai Masters with a right knee injury and announced he will miss the remainder of the 2026 season.
 win over Daniel Altmaier in Shanghai, keeping his bid for a year-end top-five finish alive.){kind=link}