Toronto [Canada], August 8 (ANI): Ben Shelton secured his first-ever ATP Masters 1000-level title, beating Karen Khachanov in a brilliantly contested remaining to safe the Canadian Open title on Friday.
On Friday, with a tense 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) victory over Khachanov, Shelton turned the youngest American to win an ATP Masters 1000 in twenty years. Shelton rallied from 0/40, serving out the second set after which serving from behind in a tense remaining set, pressured his third tie-break of the event, which he received.
Speaking after his title win, Shelton stated, as quoted by ATP’s official web site, ‘It is a surreal feeling. It has been an extended week, not a straightforward path to the ultimate. My greatest tennis got here out when it mattered most. I used to be clutch, I persevered, I used to be resilient. All the qualities I wish to see in myself.’
Shelton is the youngest American to safe the ATP Masters 1000 title since a 21-year-old Andy Roddick secured the Miami title again in 2004. With this, he has surged to world quantity six and fourth within the ATP Live Rankings, giving an enormous increase to his ATP Finals qualification probabilities. The season nearer will happen from November 9 to 16 onwards.
On the best way to the title, Shelton overcame world quantity eight Alex de Minaur and world quantity 4 Taylor Fritz, reaching his first-ever ATP Masters 1000 remaining after securing third-set tie-break wins over Brandon Nakashima and Flavio Cobolli.
This is his third profession singles title, having received titles beforehand in Tokyo (2023) and Houston (2024). (ANI)