Shanghai six-six-placed Ben Shelton, who had not played since he had sustained a left shoulder injury at the US Open, was hit by David Goffin on Friday with 6-2, 6-4 in a second round game at the Shanghai Masters.
Goffin Brak Shelton’s Serve not long after the game resumed after a short rain suspension.
Earlier in the week, Shelton said that, despite the five-week resignation, he still hoped to qualify for the ATP final in Turin, Italy, from November 9.
Shelton is currently sixth in the points race for Turin, with eight reaching the final. But his loss Friday will place a dent in those ambitions.
“It is the first time that I have brought myself in a good position at this point in the year to make Turin,” Shelton told the ATP Tour website this week and for his match against Goffin. “Hopefully I get a few more good results and I get over the line.”
In another match in the second round, the American Frances lost Tiafoe, 25th, 6-7 (9), 6-2, 6-1 against Yannick Hanfmann in Germany.
The top-ranking players in Shanghai all received the first round bye’s. No. 4 Novak Djokovic and fifth placed Taylor Fritz would play later on Friday.
Jannik Sinner, who won the China Open -Final in Beijing on Wednesday, was not planned to play until Saturday. Top ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Fritz in the Japan Open Final, announced after his victory in Tokyo that he would not play in Shanghai because of a few small disorders.
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