David Goffin secured his second top-10 victory of the season in Shanghai. The Belgian toppled world no. 6 Ben Shelton 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 31 minutes for a place in the third round.
The two-time Shanghai Masters quarter-finalist added Shelton to his list of top-10 wins this season after ousting Carlos Alcaraz in Miami. The American played his first tournament since retiring at the US Open.
World no. 6 failed to break his rival while suffering three breaks en route to the exit door. Shelton led 18-10 in service winners. However, Goffin had the upper hand from the baseline and played flawless tennis at the net.
🇧🇪DAVID GOFFIN gets his second top 10 win of 2025 (Beat Alcaraz in Miami)
Takes out a rusty Ben Shelton 6-2 6-4!
Great reminder of what a good smooth baseliner Goffin is and how much time he can take away with his excellent timing & redirection skills.pic.twitter.com/QYnytIuiEl
— TennisONE App (@TennisONEApp) October 3, 2025
David landed 19 winners and 11 unforced errors, taming his strokes nicely and leaving the opponent on a 17-22 ratio. A left-hander played a loose service game at 1-1 in the opener, netting a forehand and suffering a break at love.
Ben landed a backhand winner in the fourth game and created a break chance. He missed a routine backhand that could have brought him to the positive side. The Belgian landed two volley winners and held for 3-1.
David clinched the sixth game with a forehand winner and secured another break for a 5-2 advantage after Ben's loose forehand. Goffin served for the set in game eight and landed a service winner, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 33 minutes.
David Goffin, Shanghai 2025© Stream screenshot
They needed just over 20 minutes to close the opening seven games of the second set. Shelton held at love at 3-3 with a forehand winner before they stopped in the eighth game due to rain.
They continued under a roof, and David netted a forehand to experience two break points. The Belgian denied them with fine hitting, including a backhand crosscourt winner on the second.
Goffin held and made a push on the return at 4-4. He generated three break chances and seized the third after Shelton's terrible forehand. David moved in front and served for the win at 5-4.
He held at 30 after Ben's backhand error, sealing the deal and celebrating his second top-10 win of the season.
