Arthur Gea stuns Ben Shelton in straight sets at Shanghai Masters
World number 56 Arthur Gea beat world number four Ben Shelton 7-6(5), 7-6(3) on Sunday in the third round at Shanghai. The result also removed Shelton as a possible quarter-final opponent for Hubert Hurkacz.
A close match decided in two tie-breaks
On Sunday, 11 October, in the third round of the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Arthur Gea beat Ben Shelton 7-6(5), 7-6(3). Gea, a 21-year-old Frenchman ranked world number 56, beat Shelton, the 24-year-old American who is the world number four and the third seed in Shanghai and who reached the final of this year's US Open. The match was played on hard court in an ATP Masters 1000 event with a prize pool of $9.415 million. According to AFP, the win was Gea's biggest of his career and his first over a top-10 player, and Shelton was the biggest casualty of the tournament so far.
The first set was close from the start. Gea moved ahead 5-3, before Shelton came back and levelled at 5-5 with a clutch backhand volley at the net. The players were neck and neck in the tie-break until Gea won the first set point. Shelton forced a second tie-break, and the match went past two hours. Shelton faltered in that tie-break, and Gea clinched the victory at the first attempt.
- Gea moves ahead 5-3 in the first set
- Shelton levels at 5-5 with a clutch backhand volley at the net
- Gea wins the first set tie-break, 7-6(5)
- Gea wins the second set tie-break, 7-6(3), after Shelton forces it
- Gea clinches victory at the first attempt
Gea's season and reaction
Gea won his first professional title in July at a 250-level event in Los Cabos. AFP reports that he has been "more confident on court" after a breakout year. Following the win over a top-10 player, Gea called it "Amazing to be honest" and said his game was "all about focus, concentration" and staying "ready for every point". Gea will play either Francisco Cerundolo or Jakub Mensik in the next round.
What it means for Hurkacz
Hubert Hurkacz had already beaten Novak Djokovic 6:4, 6:3 in the second round at Shanghai, according to Przeglad Sportowy. Before the Shelton match, the Polish outlet reported that Hurkacz could face Francis Tiafoe or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the round of 16, the latter a rival he lost to in the final in Chengdu. Hurkacz was set to face Yi Zhou in the following round, and the outlet described him as a clear favourite in that match. With Shelton eliminated, Hurkacz no longer had the world number four as a possible quarter-final opponent.
Rest of the third round and the event
In the same round, Karen Chaczanow beat Adrian Mannarino of France 6:2, 6:4. The main draw of the tournament runs until 18 October. The singles winner will receive 1,000 ranking points and a cheque for $1.151 million.
