Shelton Successfully Defends Canada Open Title

Ben Shelton arrived in Canada with only one ATP Masters 1000 match win all season. Twelve days later, he leaves Montreal as a back-to-back champion, having not dropped a set and looking out like the person to beat heading into the US Open.

With the highest 4 seeds all clowning up early, the defending champion dealt with the stress fantastically, producing among the greatest all-court tennis I’ve seen him play to turn into the primary participant since Rafael Nadal in 2019 to efficiently defend the Canadian Masters title.

Brandon Nakashima additionally performed his half, having fun with the most effective week of his profession to succeed in a maiden Masters 1000 closing, however Shelton’s mixture of energy, improved returning and composure underneath stress proved an excessive amount of within the championship match.

Day Twelve Canada Open Ultimate Consequence

Winner
Loser
Rating

(5) Ben Shelton
(28) Brandon Nakashima
6-3 7-6(4)

Ben Shelton def. Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 7-6(4)

Ben Shelton accomplished a flawless title defence in Montreal, defeating Brandon Nakashima to turn into the primary man since Rafael Nadal in 2019 to efficiently defend the Canadian Masters crown, and he did so with out dropping a set.

The scoreline maybe undersells the closeness as Nakashima served fantastically early on, opening the match with 4 aces in his first service sport, however Shelton step by step discovered his vary on return and produced the decisive second of the opening set with a blistering forehand return winner to interrupt for 4-3.

From there, the defending champion by no means regarded again, controlling the baseline together with his forehand and blended in loads of selection, utilizing the slice, coming ahead commonly and displaying a willingness to interact in longer rallies when required.

Nakashima additionally deserves loads of credit score for hanging round. Regardless of trailing for a lot of the second set, he repeatedly held underneath scoreboard stress and compelled a tie-break, however Shelton merely raised his stage once more. A forehand winner secured the essential mini-break earlier than one other rocket down the road sealed victory after one hour and 27 minutes.

Shelton didn’t drop serve in both the semi-final or closing and wasn’t damaged in his closing three matches of the event.

He additionally claimed the title with out dropping a set, changing into the primary man since Novak Djokovic in 2016 to attain that feat in Canada, and there was no one within the draw capable of exploit his weaknesses on the backhand/backhand return.

To be truthful although, Shelton did have an excellent week on the return of serve, so it is going to be fascinating to see if that continues when he runs into a greater calibre of server.

I performed among the greatest tennis I ever performed. To have the ability to put that on show in entrance of you has been an honour. Shelton on his win.

The victory additionally topped off an excellent week statistically. Shelton defended his title, improved to 6-0 in opposition to Nakashima, collected his fourth ATP title of the season, and have become simply the fourth man this century after Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to efficiently defend the Canadian Masters title.

For Nakashima, it was additionally a stable week because the American reached his first Masters 1000 closing, performed among the cleanest tennis of his profession and leaves Montreal with a career-high rating of twenty-two, which I’ve all the time thought was potential for him

With Cincinnati instantly underway and the US Open looming, Shelton now heads to New York as one of many type gamers on tour. Can he go deep in New York?