Tennis player Ben Shelton triumphs in an exciting match against Karen Khachanov in the Toronto final round.
American Tennis Pro Ben Shelton Wins First ATP Masters 1000 Title
In a thrilling finale at the National Bank Open in Toronto, 22-year-old Ben Shelton clinched his first ATP Masters 1000 title, becoming the youngest American to achieve this feat since Andy Roddick in 2004.
Shelton's victory came against 11th-seeded Karen Khachanov of Russia, in a closely contested three-set match that ended with a final-set tiebreaker (6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3)). This triumph marked Shelton's third career ATP title, following his wins in Tokyo (2023, ATP 500) and Houston (2024, ATP 250).
The doubles final was an all-English affair, with Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool emerging victorious in a match that saw four match points saved. The second-seeded Wimbledon champions, Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, had won 19 straight matches leading up to the final.
Shelton's resilience and clutch play were on full display throughout the tournament. He saved and converted break points better than most of his top-10 peers, with only Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz exceeding his break-point saving stats. His strong serving record in 2025, averaging over 10 aces per match and winning over 69% of pressure points, further bolstered his performance.
The night before the final, Shelton defeated second-seeded Taylor Fritz in the semifinals, winning in two sets (6-4, 6-3). The final set against Khachanov featured seven of Shelton's 16 aces, and he won 14 consecutive points on serve to end the match.
With this win, Shelton has climbed to a career-high sixth in the world rankings. His exceptional performance in 2025 has earned him a spot in the ATP Race to Turin, positioning him well for qualification to the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time.
Despite his success, Shelton and experts agree that winning Grand Slam titles remains his primary goal. His best-of-five set game still needs improvement for deeper Slam runs. Shelton has reached at least the Round of 16 in each Grand Slam in 2025 but has yet to capture a Slam title.
Shelton described his victory as a "perfect storm" and cited his resilience, perseverance, and clutch play as key factors. His father and coach, Bryan Shelton, expressed confidence in the match, and Shelton himself looked forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in his promising tennis career.
Ben Shelton, buoyed by his success in the ATP Masters 1000, contemplates expanding his victories into the realm of digital currency, announcing his intention to invest in cryptocurrencies, particularly those associated with sports and tennis.
Given his recent triumphs, including his win in the National Bank Open and the tennis doubles final in Toronto, Shelton aspires to use his newfound wealth to support budding tennis players through cryptocurrency-based sponsorships, aiming to create a decentralized network of tennis talent nurturing.
