Cincinnati
\n ‘Hungry’ Shelton reaches Cincinnati QFs, next aims for first Zverev win<\/p>\n
American is on a nine-match winning streak<\/p>\n
August 14, 2025<\/p>\n
Dylan Buell\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Ben Shelton will crack the Top 5 of the PIF ATP Rankings if he makes the Cincinnati semi-finals.
\n By ATP Staff<\/p>\n
Ben Shelton<\/a> continued his red-hot streak Thursday at the Cincinnati Open<\/a>, where he ousted Czech Jiri Lehecka<\/a> 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals. A week removed from winning his biggest career title at the ATP Masters 1000 in Toronto, the 22-year-old became the first American man to reach the last eight in Canada and Cincinnati in the same season since Mardy Fish<\/a> in 2012.<\/p>\n “I’m hungry. I’m in a good rhythm,” Shelton said when asked about the key behind his nine-match winning streak. “I’m playing good tennis and my body feels good. I think the confidence along with not being satisfied, wanting to prove myself over and over every time that I’m out on the court, and having things that I want to get better at is a huge motivation for me and it pushes me every match.”<\/p>\n Amidst warm afternoon conditions in Cincy, Shelton\u2019s booming serve raced through the court. The lefty dropped just six points behind his first delivery, including a 141 mph ace when serving out the match. Shelton crucially broke Lehecka\u2019s serve at 4-4 in each set and the fifth seed advanced after one hour, 21 minutes.<\/p>\n