David Goffin spoiled Ben Shelton’s comeback from injury in Shanghai and remained perfect against the No.2 American, handing the world No. 6 a 6-2, 6-4 defeat.
34-year-old Goffin hit 19 winners against 11 unforced errors to improve to 2-0 against Shelton in 2025.
Shelton was unable to make inroads against Goffin’s serve – he won just 13 points against it and failed to convert any of his three break points. The American had one break opportunity in the opening set with Goffin serving at 2-1, and another two in the second set, just after a brief rain delay, with Goffin serving at 3-4, 15-40.
Goffin engineered three breaks from five opportunities.
Goffin has been making his way back from injury as well. A foot injury has hobbled him over the last few months on tour. He had lost 10 of his last 14 matches prior to rocking up in Shanghai.
“Another Top 10 win,” Goffin said. “I’m really happy with how I played. I needed that kind of match. The first round was good as well, and gave me a lot of confidence, especially I was struggling the whole summer, coming back from my foot injury.
“So to come back on court with confidence, to slide on the hard court… I was struggling, with my confidence as well, but now I think everything sticks together in this tournament and I’m really happy because I have worked a lot.”
Shelton was making his return from injury, after pulling out of Laver Cup and Davis Cup in September. The 22-year-old American had pulled out of the US Open in the third round when the injury originally surfaced.
Shelton started slow and Goffin did the opposite. The former world No.7 put forth a flawless performance and overcame a rough patch late – he was serving at 3-4, 15-40 in the second set before flipping the script and finishing off his second Top 10 win of the season.
Goffin is 21-62 lifetime against the Top 10.
Goffin, who also defeated Carlos Alcaraz in 2025 (in Miami), will face Canada’s Gabriel Diallo in the third round. He is defending quarterfinal points from Shanghai last year.
