Atlanta native Ben Shelton defeated Roberto Carballes Baena in straight sets during his third-round match on Tuesday, utilizing his powerful serve to overpower the Spaniard. In the round of 16, Shelton will face a familiar opponent—Jannik Sinner. The two previously met at this same stage during the 2023 Shanghai Masters, where Shelton emerged victorious.
Since that defeat, Sinner has gone on to win two Grand Slam titles and claimed the World No. 1 ranking. Additionally, the Italian has faced Shelton three more times since their Shanghai encounter, winning all three matches convincingly in straight sets.
Despite this, the 21-year-old Shelton remains optimistic ahead of their upcoming clash. Reflecting on last year’s match, Shelton expressed his excitement about facing Sinner again. “I have great memories from that match last year,” Shelton said. “I’ve probably watched the tape a couple of times this year. I’m really looking forward to it—it’s always a big opportunity to play one of the top players in the world.”