Faria stuns Shelton 6-4, 6-4 at Cincinnati Open in first Top 10 win
Synopsis
A Portuguese qualifier with nothing to lose walked onto the Cincinnati hardcourt and handed the reigning Montreal champion his first defeat in seven matches. Faria's comeback from 1-4 down in the second set — while Shelton squandered 11 of 12 break-point chances — makes this one of the cleaner upsets of the Masters 1000 season so far.
Key Takeaways
Jaime Faria defeated Ben Shelton 6-4, 6-4 at the Cincinnati Open on 17 August .
The win is Faria's first career victory over a Top 10 player.
Shelton's six-match winning streak — built on his Montreal Masters 1000 title last week — was ended.
Shelton converted just 1 of 12 break points, according to ATP Stats .
Faria trailed 1-4 in the second set before winning five straight games to close out the match.
Faria next faces Adam Walton ; Taylor Fritz and Learner Tien also advanced to the third round.
Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria delivered one of the upsets of the Cincinnati Open on 17 August, defeating American favourite Ben Shelton 6-4, 6-4 to claim the first Top 10 victory of his career and end Shelton's six-match winning streak.
How the Match Unfolded
Shelton, competing in his first outing since claiming the Masters 1000 title in Montreal last week, struggled to find his rhythm from the outset. Faria capitalised on a sluggish start from the American, taking the opening set comfortably before pushing ahead in the second.
The match's defining moment came when Faria trailed 1-4 in the second set, only to reel off five consecutive games to close out the contest. Shelton had multiple opportunities to wrestle back control but converted just 1 of 12 break points across the match, according to ATP Stats — a profligacy that ultimately proved decisive.
Faria's Reaction
'It's a very emotional moment for me and my team, and to do it here in front of an amazing crowd and against the home player at night and at an amazing venue just makes it a little more special,' Faria said after the win.
What's Next for the Players
Faria advances to the third round, where he will face Australia's Adam Walton, who beat Ignacio Buse 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday. Shelton, meanwhile, sees his bid for back-to-back deep Masters 1000 runs come to an abrupt halt.
Other Second-Round Results
Sixth seed Taylor Fritz eased past compatriot Alex Michelsen 6-3, 6-4 and will next meet Spain's Daniel Merida Aguilar, who defeated Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-2. World No. 12 Learner Tien, fresh from a semi-final run in Montreal, also advanced with a 6-3, 7-6(4) win over Sebastian Baez. Tien's third-round opponent will be Frances Tiafoe, who closed Sunday's schedule with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Lorenzo Sonego. The American contingent remains well-represented as the tournament enters its business end.
Point of View
This result reframes his trajectory: qualifiers who beat Top 10 players on hard courts tend to attract seedings and direct acceptance within a season. The bigger story may be whether Shelton can recalibrate before the US Open hardcourt swing reaches its peak.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jaime Faria and why is his Cincinnati win significant?
Jaime Faria is a Portuguese tennis player who entered the Cincinnati Open as a qualifier. His 6-4, 6-4 win over Ben Shelton on 17 August marks the first Top 10 victory of his career and ended Shelton's six-match winning streak.
How did Faria beat Shelton despite trailing in the second set?
Faria was down 1-4 in the second set before winning five consecutive games to seal the match. Shelton's inability to convert break points — just 1 from 12 attempts — proved the critical factor, according to ATP Stats.
What does this result mean for Ben Shelton?
The loss ends Shelton's six-match winning streak, which included his Masters 1000 title in Montreal the previous week. His hopes of consecutive deep Masters 1000 runs were cut short in the second round in Cincinnati.
Who does Jaime Faria play next at the Cincinnati Open?
Faria faces Australia's Adam Walton in the third round. Walton advanced by defeating Ignacio Buse 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday.
Which other players advanced to the third round on Sunday?
Sixth seed Taylor Fritz beat Alex Michelsen 6-3, 6-4 and will face Daniel Merida Aguilar. Learner Tien defeated Sebastian Baez 6-3, 7-6(4) and will meet Frances Tiafoe, who beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-4.
