Shelton claims Tokyo to win first ATP title
American young gun Ben Shelton captured his maiden ATP Tour title as he beat Aslan Karatsev 7-5 6-1 to put an exclamation mark on what has been a breakthrough season.
Shelton, 21, rises to a career-high No.15 in the ATP Rankings, having started the season at No.96, and is the youngest champion at the Japan Open since Australian Lleyton Hewitt picked it up in 2001 at the age of 20.
"That meant a lot to me and my team," Shelton said. "We have been working really hard since the beginning to build my game and win titles on the ATP Tour.
"I made some deep runs lately. You see the great champions, they finish weeks off. They win titles, they don't just get to finals. They are able to maintain their level throughout the week.
"I am not saying I am anywhere there yet, but to be able to do it for one week, put together five matches in a row in Tokyo is really special."
Shelton is the sixth first-time champion on the ATP circuit in 2023 and the second successive American to win in Tokyo after Taylor Fritz took last year's crown.
