Portuguese tennis player Jaime Faria, ranked 79th in the world, defeated world number six Ben Shelton of the United States 6-4, 6-4 to reach the third round of the Cincinnati Masters.
Faria, a 23-year-old who entered the main draw through the qualifying tournament, produced a major upset by eliminating the eighth seed in straight sets. Shelton entered the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati coming off a title victory at the Montreal Masters 1000 tournament.
Following his win, Faria said the result was a very emotional moment and marked his first victory over a top-10 player in the world. The Portuguese player added that he was savoring the milestone and that he works for moments such as this.
With the win, Faria became the seventh Portuguese player in history to beat a top-10 opponent. He joined a group led by João Sousa with five top-10 victories and Nuno Borges with two. Gastão Elias, Frederico Gil, Nuno Marques, and Henrique Rocha have each recorded one win against a top-10 player.
Borges Reaches Third Round
Earlier in the tournament, 47th-ranked Nuno Borges secured his own place in the third round of the Cincinnati Masters. Borges defeated Argentine player Francisco Cerundolo, ranked 25th in the world, by a matching scoreline of 6-4, 6-4.
The Cincinnati Masters, officially known as an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, is one of the premier hard-court events on the professional tennis tour. Held annually in the United States, the tournament serves as a key preparation event leading into the US Open.
