The young American tennis player Ben Shelton, just 22 years old, made history this Friday by winning the Toronto Masters 1000, also known as the National Bank Open, after defeating Russia’s Karen Khachanov in a high-intensity final by 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(7-3).
With this victory, Shelton becomes the youngest American to win a title of this category since Andy Roddick achieved it in Miami in 2004, confirming his rapid rise as one of the most promising figures on the ATP Tour.
The match, which lasted nearly three hours, was marked by Shelton’s intensity and mental toughness, as he managed to recover after losing a tight first set in a tiebreak. From the second set onwards, he imposed an aggressive game and a powerful serve that racked up a total of 16 aces and 38 winners, key to keeping the pressure on his opponent.
In the decisive set, both players held serve firmly, forcing another tiebreak in which Shelton displayed composure and determination to seal the win. This title not only represents the first Masters 1000 victory of his career, but it also propels Shelton to sixth place in the world rankings, pushing Serbian Novak Djokovic down to seventh.
His run in Toronto was impeccable, with wins over elite players such as Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz, further solidifying his status as the new standard-bearer of American tennis.
Off the court, his success also resonated on a personal level: professional soccer player and Shelton’s partner, Trinity Rodman, celebrated the triumph on social media, calling it “inspiring” and highlighting the effort and dedication the young star has shown to reach this pinnacle moment in his career.
