Shelton's rise in the recent period has been truly significant
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Ben Shelton shows clutch in Toronto en route to historic Masters 1000 crown
Ben Shelton lifted his career-best trophy in Toronto, earning his first Masters 1000 crown at 22. The American earned the title in remarkable fashion, surviving three deciding tie breaks en route to a trophy.
Thus, Shelton became the first player in Masters 1000 history to pull off such a feat on the way to the title. How did Ben do it? By staying fearless, keeping calm under pressure and finding his A-game in the pivotal moments.
The young gun had to dig deep in rounds three and four. He bested top-tier players in the quarter-final and the semi-final before producing another thrilling win against Karen Khachanov in the title clash.
Ben Shelton running into the crowd to share a moment with his dad and team after winning his first Masters title in Toronto.
Love this. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Qvu3KxSjvg
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 8, 2025
Shelton played against his compatriot, Brandon Nakashima, in the third round. The 4th seed prevailed 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 and avoided an early setback. The favorite fired 19 aces and lost serve once.
However, Nakashima fought well after the second set and led 2-0 in the decider. Ben pulled the break back in the fourth game and denied a break point at 3-3 that could have been crucial.
Brandon saved two match points on serve in the tenth game before his rival clinched a tie break 7-5 to emerge at the top and remain on the title course. Two days later, Shelton had to dig deep versus Flavio Cobolli.
Ben Shelton, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot
The American prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 7-6, showing his clutch in the pivotal moments. Both players scored three breaks. Flavio had the upper hand in the third set, serving well and generating break chances.
He stole Ben's serve in game five and provided two comfortable holds for 5-3. Standing on the verge of exit door, a left-hander pulled the break back at the last moment at 4-5 and extended the duel.
The Italian saved a match point on serve at 5-6 before the American dominated the tie break to wrap up another tight victory and reach the quarter-final. Shelton produced a high-quality tennis against Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz.
Ben Shelton, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot
Thus, he booked a place in his first Masters 1000 final and arranged the clash against Karen Khachanov. They battled for two hours and 47 minutes before Ben prevailed 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 to wrap up the title.
The young gun kept his composure after the opener and in the decisive moments. He got broken once and provided two breaks. Karen saved three set points at 5-6 in the opener and claimed the tie break 7-5.
Shelton grabbed a break at 4-4 in the second set and denied four break points in the next one with winners to introduce a decider. They served well and sent it into a tie break.
The American played flawless tennis and closed it 7-3 to seal the deal and write Masters 1000 history.
Ben Goes Big: Shelton Becomes Youngest American Masters Champion in 21 Years
By Chris Oddo | Thursday August 7, 2025
Blood, sweat, tears and – finally – triumph. Ben Shelton gave it all in Toronto and took home the hardware as the youngest American to win a Masters title since Andy Roddick in 2004, defeating Karen Khachanov 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(3) in two hours and 47 minutes.
Shelton is the first American man to win the title in Canada since Roddick in 2003, and he will rise to a career-high ranking of No.6.
“I feel so blessed,” Shelton said. “Just to have opportunities like this. The joy that I feel today isn’t just because of the win. It’s because of the people that I get to spend every day with.”
It was a hard-hitting tussle with Khachanov, the pair’s second career meeting which saw Khachanov jump out in front on the strength of a solid first-set tiebreak.
But Shelton would not be denied. The 22-year-old American answered back, going unbroken in sets two and three and winning four of the final five points in the deciding set tiebreak to earn his third and biggest ATP title.
Shelton defeated No. 8-seeded Alex de Minaur and No. 4-seeded Taylor Fritz to advance to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final, and survived third-set tiebreaks to defeat Brandon Nakashima and Flavio Cobolli earlier in the tournament.
When the victory was clinched, Shelton made his way to the crowd to share the moment with his coach and father Bryan. His coach encouraged him to step into the court and take balls earlier against Khachanov, and the strategy paid dividends.
“I love the way that he coaches me,” Shelton said. “He usually leaves stuff up to me. He gives me a lot of suggestions. He knows me better than anyone in the world, so he’s well qualified to give me those suggestions.”
Khachanov went more than six years between Masters finals, a record, but could not summon the magic that he displayed when winning the Paris title in 2018.
Still, he will rise to No.12 in the rankings after a strong effort that saw him save a match point while knocking off top-seeded Alexander Zverev in the semis.
“Definitely still it’s a positive, great tournament, great run,” he said. “I had some great battles, great wins against top guys. So that’s why I give credit to myself for doing that, and that’s it.
“I mean, you can win, you can lose, so you just try to regroup and be ready for the next tournament, it’s another Masters 1000, and then it’s a Grand Slam. So this is tennis, so sometimes you have to regroup quickly and be fit, be ready for the next match.”
Ben Goes Big: Shelton Becomes Youngest American Masters Champion in 22 Years
By Chris Oddo | Thursday August 7, 2025
Blood, sweat, tears and – finally – triumph. Ben Shelton gave it all in Toronto and took home the hardware as the youngest American to win a Masters title since Andy Roddick in 2004, defeating Karen Khachanov 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(3) in two hours and 47 minutes.
Shelton is the first American man to win the title in Canada since Roddick in 2003, and he will rise to a career-high ranking of No.6.
“I feel so blessed,” Shelton said. “Just to have opportunities like this. The joy that I feel today isn’t just because of the win. It’s because of the people that I get to spend every day with.”
It was a hard-hitting tussle with Khachanov, the pair’s second career meeting which saw Khachanov jump out in front on the strength of a solid first-set tiebreak.
But Shelton would not be denied. The 22-year-old American answered back, going unbroken in sets two and three and winning four of the final five points in the deciding set tiebreak to earn his third and biggest ATP title.
Shelton defeated No. 8-seeded Alex de Minaur and No. 4-seeded Taylor Fritz to advance to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final, and survived third-set tiebreaks to defeat Brandon Nakashima and Flavio Cobolli earlier in the tournament.
When the victory was clinched, Shelton made his way to the crowd to share the moment with his coach and father Bryan. His coach encouraged him to step into the court and take balls earlier against Khachanov, and the strategy paid dividends.
“I love the way that he coaches me,” Shelton said. “He usually leaves stuff up to me. He gives me a lot of suggestions. He knows me better than anyone in the world, so he’s well qualified to give me those suggestions.”
Khachanov went more than six years between Masters finals, a record, but could not summon the magic that he displayed when winning the Paris title in 2018.
Still, he will rise to No.12 in the rankings after a strong effort that saw him save a match point while knocking off top-seeded Alexander Zverev in the semis.
“Definitely still it’s a positive, great tournament, great run,” he said. “I had some great battles, great wins against top guys. So that’s why I give credit to myself for doing that, and that’s it.
“I mean, you can win, you can lose, so you just try to regroup and be ready for the next tournament, it’s another Masters 1000, and then it’s a Grand Slam. So this is tennis, so sometimes you have to regroup quickly and be fit, be ready for the next match.”
Humble & Hungry – Shelton Is Youngest American to Reach Masters Final in 21 Years
By Chris Oddo | Wednesday August 6, 2025
Ben Shelton broke new ground on Wednesday night in Toronto, defeating Taylor Fritz to become the youngest American to reach a Masters 1000 final since Andy Roddick in 2004.
The 22-year-old notched a 6-4, 6-3 over the top-ranked American, and has now earned back-to-back Top-10 wins for the first time in his career.
“I’m just looking for things in my game to steadily improve and I’ve seen so many big improvements in my game this week,” said Shelton. “That’s what I’m most happy about. The way that I’m playing, how I’m executing and how little I’m hesitating.”
Shelton saved both break points he faced in a flawless performance, and converted three of ten to pull away from the fourth-ranked American.
He cracked seven aces and won 25 of 29 first-serve points.
“When he is standing in one corner, he’s one of the best in the world at being behind the ball and hitting it harder and harder every time,” Shelton said of the 2024 US Open runner-up. “You have to keep him moving and I did a great job of that, moving the ball around the court today.”
In the first all-American Masters semifinal in 15 years Shelton improved to 1-1 vs Fritz and became the eighth player born in the 2000s to play a Masters final.
“It’s huge,” Shelton said. “Talked about how the Masters were the one level of tournaments that I’ve been struggling with, and my next step is being able to excel in these tournaments. So taking that first step and getting my first deep run under my belt is exciting.”
He’ll face Karen Khachanov for the title on Thursday evening.
Washington: Ben Shelton aces his way through. Frances Tiafoe is next
Ben Shelton produced a statement victory in the third round of the ATP 500 event in Washington. World no. 8 faced Gabriel Diallo in the third round and notched a dominant 6-3, 6-2 victory in 61 minutes.
The 4th seed dominated from start to finish, making the difference with his booming initial shot and outplaying the Canadian in every department. Shelton took 22 points more than his rival.
Ben blasted 16 aces and as many service winners, dropping six points in nine service games and facing no break points. Diallo felt the pressure and cracked under it.
🎙️ "Attention les joueurs servent très vite"
Shelton claque un service qui touche une spectatrice
🇺🇸 "Désolé c'est ma faute, ça va ?"
Bienvenue à Washington par Ben Shelton 😭pic.twitter.com/8G0qKmcBOu
— TennisTemple (@tennistemple) July 24, 2025
The lower-ranked player struggled behind the second serve and got broken three times from four chances offered to his rival. The American landed 22 winners and seven unforced errors.
They split the 14 most extended points, and a left-hander dominated those up to four strokes, building a 47-25 advantage. The home favorite provided five comfortable holds in the first set.
He made a push on the return in the second game and caused the rival's mistake with a sharp return for an early advantage. Ben fired an ace in the third game and forged a 3-0 advantage after only eight minutes.
The 4th seed held at love for 4-1 and landed a service winner two games later to maintain the advantage. Diallo served well after that early setback. He held in game eight to reduce the deficit to 5-3 and prolong the battle.
Ben Shelton, Washington 2025© Stream screenshot
However, Shelton painted an ace in game nine for a hold at love and 6-3 in half an hour. The Canadian hit a double fault in the third game of the second set, losing serve and moving closer to the exit door.
The American closed the next game at love, you guess, with an ace, and made another push on the return at 3-1. He cracked a forehand down the line winner for a break point and converted it with another forehand winner that sent him 4-1 in front.
Shelton held with an unreturned serve in the sixth game, moving 5-1 up and serving for the win at 5-2. A left-hander sealed the deal with an ace, racing over the top and arranging a thrilling clash against Frances Tiafoe.