Ben Shelton Triumphs at Canadian Open, Captures First ATP Masters 1000 Title

Ben Shelton, the fourth seed from America, celebrated a remarkable achievement by winning his inaugural ATP Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open in Toronto on Thursday. In a thrilling match against Russia’s 11th seed, Karen Khachanov, Shelton overcame an initial setback to claim victory with a final score of 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(3). This win marks a significant milestone in Shelton's career, as he has now secured the largest title to date.

Throughout the tournament, the 22-year-old demonstrated exceptional skill, overcoming notable opponents such as Italian 13th seed Flavio Cobolli, Australian ninth seed Alex de Minaur, and American second seed Taylor Fritz. With his latest success, Shelton is now poised to rise to a career-high ranking of sixth, becoming the youngest American man to achieve a Masters 1000 title since former world number one Andy Roddick in 2004. His previous titles were won in Tokyo in 2023 and Houston in 2024.

Reflecting on his victory, Shelton expressed his disbelief at winning, calling it a "surreal feeling" and acknowledging the challenging journey to the final. He praised his own ability to perform under pressure, stating, "My best tennis came out when it mattered most. I was clutch, I persevered, I was resilient."

The match was filled with tense moments, especially in the first set where Khachanov seemed to be in control at 5-3 before Shelton rallied to take a 6-5 lead. However, Khachanov pushed the match into a tiebreak, leveraging Shelton's mistakes to secure the first set. The second set was interrupted due to technical issues, but once play resumed, Shelton fought back to win the set, ultimately leading to a decisive tiebreak in the third set dominated by his powerful serves and strategic play.

Shelton delivered an impressive performance that featured 16 aces and 38 winners across nearly three hours of play. Despite the challenging matchup against Khachanov, who noted the intensity of Shelton's shots, Shelton managed to shift the momentum in his favor as the match progressed.

Khachanov, who was aiming for his second Masters 1000 title after a past victory in Paris, acknowledged the disappointment of his loss but showed gratitude towards his team for their support throughout the tournament. "It's painful to lose in the final... We win and we lose together. It's okay," he remarked, reflecting on the collaborative efforts of his team behind him.