| Singles | |
|---|---|
| 2016 Columbus Challenger 2 | |
| Champion |  Stefan Kozlov |
| Runner-up | Tennys Sandgren |
| Score | 6–1, 2–6, 6–2 |
Mikael Torpegaard was the defending champion but lost in the first round to Taylor Fritz.
Stefan Kozlov won the title after defeating Tennys Sandgren 6–1, 2–6, 6–2 in the final.
Taylor Fritz (quarterfinals) Rajeev Ram (withdrew)
Henri Laaksonen (semifinals) Stefan Kozlov (champion) Mitchell Krueger (second round) Tennys Sandgren (final) Austin Krajicek (first round)
Sam Barry (semifinals)| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Sam Barry | 5 | 66 | ||||||||||
| 4 | Stefan Kozlov | 7 | 78 | ||||||||||
| 4 | Stefan Kozlov | 6 | 2 | 6 | |||||||||
| 6 | Tennys Sandgren | 1 | 6 | 2 | |||||||||
| 3 | Henri Laaksonen | 2 | 7 | 4 | |||||||||
| 6 | Tennys Sandgren | 6 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||
| First round | Second round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | T Fritz | 77 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 M Torpegaard | 63 | 1 | 1 | T Fritz | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 M Lībietis | 5 | 6 | 77 | M Lībietis | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WC |  Hugo Di Feo | 7 | 2 | 63 | 1 | T Fritz | 4 | 62 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Jared Hiltzik | 78 | 3 | 4 | 8 | S Barry | 6 | 77 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dennis Nevolo | 66 | 6 | 6 | D Nevolo | 4 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Q | S Kirchheimer | 5 | 4 | 8 | S Barry | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | S Barry | 7 | 6 | 8 | S Barry | 5 | 66 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | S Kozlov | 6 | 78 | 4 | S Kozlov | 7 | 78 | ||||||||||||||||||||
 J Statham | 2 | 66 | 4 | S Kozlov | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| M Giron | 63 | 4 |  D Köpfer | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| D Köpfer | 77 | 6 | 4 | S Kozlov | 6 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WC | Martin Joyce | 65 | 2 | Alt | K King | 2 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Alt | K King | 77 | 6 | Alt | K King | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| C Harrison | 6 | 7 | C Harrison | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7/Alt | A Krajicek | 2 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First round | Second round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | M Krueger | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Q | Hunter Callahan | 4 | 3 | 5 | M Krueger | 65 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
 T Vorster | 4 | 5 | P Kobelt | 77 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P Kobelt | 6 | 7 | P Kobelt | 4 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WC |  H Pöllänen | 1 | 3 | 3 | H Laaksonen | 6 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| WC | J McNally | 6 | 6 | WC | J McNally | 4 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Q | JC Aragone | 3 | 3 | 3 | H Laaksonen | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | H Laaksonen | 6 | 6 | 3 | H Laaksonen | 2 | 7 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | T Sandgren | 6 | 6 | 6 | T Sandgren | 6 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Andrew Carter | 2 | 2 | 6 | T Sandgren | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| E Quigley | 63 | 6 | 6 | E Quigley | 2 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Q | Aron Hiltzik | 77 | 3 | 2 | 6 | T Sandgren | 6 | 63 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
 C Norrie | 6 | 713 | C Norrie | 2 | 77 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| R Sarmiento | 4 | 611 | C Norrie | 77 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Erik Crepaldi | 3 | 2 | LL | L Bambridge | 63 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| LL | L Bambridge | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
This was the first edition of the tennis tournament.
Michael Berrer was the defending champion but chose not to defend his title.
Juan Mónaco was the defending champion, but lost in the first round to Dustin Brown.
Bjorn Fratangelo was the defending champion but chose not to defend his title.
Frances Tiafoe was the defending champion but chose not to defend his title.
Santiago Giraldo was the defending champion but chose not to defend his title.
Sam Groth was the defending champion but retired in the second round against Jan Choinski.
Reilly Opelka was the defending champion but lost in the first round to Tennys Sandgren.
Michael Mmoh was the defending champion but lost in the first round to Bradley Klahn.
Henri Laaksonen was the defending champion but lost in the second round to Filip Peliwo.
Steve Johnson was the defending champion and successfully defended his title, defeating Tennys Sandgren in the final, 7–6(7–2), 2–6, 6–4.
Rafael Nadal was the defending champion but withdrew with a knee injury before the tournament began.
Novak Djokovic defeated Borna Ćorić in the final, 6–3, 6–4 to win the singles tennis title at the 2018 Shanghai Masters. It was his record fourth Shanghai Masters title, and 32nd Masters 1000 title overall. He did not lose a single set in the entire tournament.
Mischa Zverev was the defending champion, but chose not to participate this year.
J. J. Wolf was the defending champion but lost in the semifinals to Stefan Kozlov.
Vasek Pospisil was the defending champion but chose not to defend his title.
Stefan Kozlov was the defending champion but lost in the second round to Dominic Stricker.
Stefan Kozlov and Peter Polansky were the defending champions but withdrew from the tournament due to a Kozlov injury.
Federico Coria was the defending champion but chose not to defend his title.
J. J. Wolf was the defending champion but chose not to defend his title.