Ben Shelton Clinches National Bank Open Title
In a thrilling conclusion to the National Bank Open, Ben Shelton clinched the title on Thursday night, marking a significant milestone in his burgeoning tennis career. The 22-year-old American triumphed over Russia’s Karen Khachanov, who was seeded 11th, with a scoreline of 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3). This victory not only represents Shelton’s third title overall but also positions him as the first American man to seize the prestigious Canada Masters 1000 championship since Andy Roddick achieved the feat in 2003.
Impressive Performance and Rising Trajectory
Shelton’s impressive performance included delivering 16 aces during the match, showcasing his powerful serve and determination on the hard courts of Toronto. He becomes the youngest American to win any Masters 1000 event since Roddick himself, who won the Miami tournament in 2004 at the age of 21. This latest success is a continuation of Shelton’s rising trajectory in the sport, adding to his previous wins in Tokyo earlier this year and in Houston on clay last year. With this victory, he is set to ascend to a career-best ranking of sixth globally.
Path to the Final
In the lead-up to the final, Shelton displayed his skills convincingly, defeating fellow American and second seed Taylor Fritz in the semifinals with a score of 6-4, 6-3. Khachanov, 29, also had an eventful path to the final, notably overcoming a match point against top seed Alexander Zverev in a tense semifinal where he prevailed in another decisive tiebreaker.
Notable Absences and Doubles Action
Notably absent from this year’s expanded tournament were top-ranked players Jannik Sinner, the 2023 Toronto champion, and world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, as both athletes prepare for the upcoming U.S. Open.
In doubles action, the match between Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool of England against Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski was equally dramatic. Cash and Glasspool managed to save four match points, eventually taking the contest 6-3, 6-7 (5), 13-11, which exemplified their current form as they stretched their winning streak to 19 matches, cementing their status as formidable opponents on the court.
