Ben Shelton Claims Toronto Title After Thrilling Comeback Against Khachanov
Ben Shelton pulled off a remarkable fightback in Toronto on Thursday night, sealing the biggest win of his young career with a gritty 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 victory over Russia’s Karen Khachanov in the National Bank Open final.
The 22-year-old American, seeded fourth, refused to back down after dropping the opening set. With raw power, pinpoint serving, and sheer determination, Shelton clawed his way back into the contest before edging a nail-biting final-set tiebreak.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” Shelton admitted after lifting the trophy. “It’s been a long week, not an easy path to the final. My best tennis came out when it mattered most. I was clutch, I persevered, I was resilient. All the qualities I like to see in myself.”
His triumph marks the first time an American has won this Masters 1000 hard-court event since Andy Roddick’s victory in 2003. For Shelton, it’s also the third ATP title of his career, adding to his 2023 Tokyo hard-court win and last year’s Houston clay triumph.
This final came just a day after Shelton powered past fellow American Taylor Fritz in straight sets, continuing the momentum that had built from his Toronto semi-final victory.
Against Khachanov, he hammered down 16 aces, seven of them in the deciding set, and finished the match by winning an astonishing 14 consecutive points on serve.
The win will propel Shelton to a career-high world ranking of No. 6, a significant leap for the rising star who has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in men’s tennis.
Khachanov, 29, remains a hard-court threat with seven career titles. His path to the final included a dramatic semi-final where he stunned Alexander Zverev in a third-set tiebreak. This clash saw Shelton also make history with his own record-breaking performance.
The event missed some of tennis’s biggest names, with reigning champion Jannik Sinner and world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz opting to skip the tournament ahead of the US Open.
Meanwhile, British tennis fans had their own reason to celebrate as Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool clinched the all-English doubles title. The pair saved four match points before defeating Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski 6-3, 6-7, 13-11, extending their incredible unbeaten streak to 19 matches.
For Shelton, though, Toronto might just be the defining moment that signals his arrival at the very top of the men’s game.
