By Chris Oddo | Thursday August 7, 2025
Blood, sweat, tears and – lastly – triumph. Ben Shelton gave all of it in Toronto and took dwelling the {hardware} because 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 primary American man to win the title in Canada since Roddick in 2003, and he’ll rise to a career-high rating of No.6.
“I really feel so blessed,” Shelton mentioned. “Simply to have alternatives like this. The enjoyment that I really feel right now isn’t simply due to the win. It’s due to the those who I get to spend every single day with.”
It was a hard-hitting tussle with Khachanov, the pair’s second profession assembly which noticed Khachanov bounce out in entrance on the energy of a stable first-set tiebreak.
However Shelton wouldn’t be denied. The 22-year-old American answered again, going unbroken in units two and three and successful 4 of the ultimate 5 factors within the deciding set tiebreak to earn his third and largest ATP title.
Shelton defeated No. 8-seeded Alex de Minaur and No. 4-seeded Taylor Fritz to advance to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 closing, and survived third-set tiebreaks to defeat Brandon Nakashima and Flavio Cobolli earlier within the match.
When the victory was clinched, Shelton made his solution to the gang to share the second together with his coach and father Bryan. His coach inspired him to step into the court docket and take balls earlier towards Khachanov, and the technique paid dividends.
“I like the way in which that he coaches me,” Shelton mentioned. “He often leaves stuff as much as me. He offers me lots of options. He is aware of me higher than anybody on the earth, so he’s properly certified to offer me these options.”
Khachanov went greater than six years between Masters finals, a document, however couldn’t summon the magic that he displayed when successful the Paris title in 2018.
Nonetheless, he’ll rise to No.12 within the rankings after a robust effort that noticed him save a match level whereas knocking off top-seeded Alexander Zverev within the semis.
“Undoubtedly nonetheless it’s a constructive, nice match, nice run,” he mentioned. “I had some nice battles, nice wins towards high guys. In order that’s why I give credit score to myself for doing that, and that’s it.
“I imply, you may win, you may lose, so that you simply attempt to regroup and be prepared for the subsequent match, it’s one other Masters 1000, after which it’s a Grand Slam. So that is tennis, so typically it’s important to regroup shortly and be match, be prepared for the subsequent match.”
