Shelton confirms rematch with Sinner in Shanghai Masters last 16

American Ben Shelton, the No 14 seed, moved into the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters by winning against Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3, 6-4 at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center on Tuesday.

Shelton needed a little over an hour to overcome Baena as the big-serving American fired eight aces and 24 winners. He kept his serve intact, breaking the Spaniard’s twice.

With the win, the world No 16 confirmed a Round-of-16 rematch with Italian Jannik Sinner, the top seed. He notably defeated Sinner (2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5)) at the same stage of ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Shanghai last year.

“I think it’s always a big opportunity whenever you get to play one of the best two or three players in the world,” Shelton said in his post-match presser on Tuesday. “Right now world No. 1, obviously, and won two Slams this year, so it will be a great challenge. And, great memories from that match last year, I probably watched the tape of that a couple times so far this year, but, yeah, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Since then, Sinner hasn’t lost against Shelton on the Tour once and leads the head-to-head 3-1. The Italian has reached the pre-quarterfinals on the back of wins against Japanese Taro Daniel (6-1, 6-4) and Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry (6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2) in the previous rounds.

The 22-year-old American, on the other hand, defeated Canadian qualifier Denis Shapovalov (6-3, 7-5) in the second round of the Shanghai tournament, after having gone through the first with a bye.

Shanghai Masters 1000, other third-round results (Qi Zhong Tennis Center, hard, USD 8.995.555, most recent results first):

• Tallon Griekspoor vs. Alexander Zverev
• Flavio Cobolli vs. Novak Djokovic
• David Goffin vs. Marcos Giron
• Jiri Lehecka vs. Holger Rune
• Frances Tiafoe vs. Roman Safiullin
• Alexei Popyrin vs. Grigor Dimitrov
• Taylor Fritz (7) beat Yosuke Watanuki (Q): 6-3, 6-4
• Jakub Mensik beat Alexander Shevchenko: 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2
• Tomas Machac (30) beat Aleksandar Vukic (Q): 6-4, 6-2
• Gael Monfils beat Ugo Humbert (16): 7-6 (7), 2-6, 6-1
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (10) beat Alexandre Muller: 6-3, 7-5
• Tommy Paul (11) beat Alejandro Tabilo (19): 6-7 (2), 7-6 (6), 6-2
• Carlos Alcaraz (3) beat Yibing Wu (WC): 7-6 (5), 6-3
• Jannik Sinner beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry (31): 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2
• Daniil Medvedev (5) beat Matteo Arnaldi (29): 5-7, 6-4, 6-4

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