Ben Shelton wins thrilling Toronto final
Ben Shelton has surged to a career-high World No. 6 and become the youngest American ATP Masters 1000 champion in two decades after a pulsating final victory over Karen Khachanov at the National Bank Open in Toronto.
The 22 year-old American has built a reputation as one of the game’s best frontrunners, but Shelton’s victory in his first Masters 1000 final was underpinned by his ability to rebound from adversity – and to come up clutch when it mattered in the tense 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) victory.
Shelton rallied from 0/40 to serve out the second set and then, serving from behind during a tense final set when Khachanov breezed through a string of service games, forced his way to his third third-set tie-break of the tournament, where he won his 14th consecutive point on serve to close it out.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” Shelton said. “It’s been a long week, not an easy path to the final. My best tennis came out when it mattered most. I was clutch, I persevered, I was resilient. All the qualities I like to see in myself.”
Shelton becomes the youngest American ATP Masters 1000 champion since 21 year-old Andy Roddick won the 2004 Miami title.
Shelton defeated No. 8 Alex de Minaur and No. 4 Taylor Fritz to advance to his first ATP Masters 1000 final after earlier surviving third-set tie-break wins over Brandon Nakashima and Flavio Cobolli.
He collected his third title, adding to triumphs in Tokyo in 2023 and Houston in 2024.
