Ben Shelton Marks 24th Birthday with Shanghai Masters Win Over Altmaier

Ben Shelton marked his 24th birthday on October 9, 2026, with a clinical second-round victory at the Shanghai Masters, defeating Germany’s Daniel Altmaier in straight sets. The American, currently ranked World No. 4, secured a 6-3, 7-6 (6) win to advance to the third round and maintain his momentum following a run to the US Open final earlier this season.

Shelton relied on his signature power throughout the match, recording seven aces and winning 84% of the points behind his first serve. While the opening set was settled by a single break of serve, the second required more resilience as Altmaier pushed the contest into a tiebreak. Shelton eventually closed out the match 8-6 in the breaker.

Despite the milestone birthday and the significant victory, the third-seeded American revealed he has no plans for traditional dessert-based festivities. Speaking in his post-match interview, Shelton was emphatic about his preference for skipping the sweets. “I hate cake,” Shelton said. “I hate cake, not a fan of cake at all.”

The victory keeps Shelton on a collision course with the tournament’s other heavyweights in a draw that has seen significant shifts. Top seed Alexander Zverev also progressed on Friday, earning a 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over Wu Yibing. However, the path to the title has opened up following the withdrawal of World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who recently announced he would miss the remainder of the 2026 season to recover from a right knee injury.

Shelton’s progression further solidifies his standing in the race to the Nitto ATP Finals, where he currently sits at third in the rankings. His efficiency on the fast Shanghai hard courts suggests he remains a primary contender to secure his first top-five year-end finish as the season enters its final stages.

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