Ben Shelton’s Stellar Performance at Canadian Open
TORONTO — Under the moonlight at Sobeys Stadium, Ben Shelton delivered one of the standout performances of his career. Showcasing a powerful serve, swift footwork, and a diverse array of shots, the world No. 7 triumphed over fellow American Taylor Fritz, winning 6-4, 6-3 in just 78 minutes, securing his spot in the Canadian Open final.
The 22-year-old Shelton was undeterred by a brief delay before the match, marking his first appearance in an ATP Masters 1,000 final, a significant milestone in his emerging career.
“The Masters have been a challenging level of tournaments for me, and elevating my game in them is my next goal,” Shelton expressed. “Reaching this first deep run is thrilling.”
There was considerable anticipation leading up to the match, as Shelton and Fritz hadn’t played each other since their 2023 encounter at Indian Wells, where Fritz had won a tight three-set match. Fast forward two years, and the once-rookie Shelton now appeared poised to claim his biggest tournament victory yet.
The match started with a 15-minute delay due to a technical glitch in the electronic line system, but soon the players took the court to entertain the Toronto crowd. Early in the match, Shelton faced two break points in his first service game, yet he bounced back with a powerful 118 mph serve and ultimately held, remaining unbroken for the rest of the set.
At 4-4, Shelton took control of the match, forcing Fritz to defend from the baseline. Shelton dominated long rallies with powerful groundstrokes and sharp slices. Errors from Fritz led to a break point for Shelton, who executed a forehand winner to gain the match’s first break, ultimately taking the first set.
On match point, Fritz committed his third double fault, resulting in a third break as he shattered his racquet in frustration. After the match, Shelton smiled at his team and waved to the supportive crowd, who cheered, “Let’s go, Ben.” With this win, he became the youngest Masters 1,000 finalist since Andy Roddick in 2004. Shelton is set to face Karen Khachanov in the final, as Khachanov triumphed over top seed Alexander Zverev, saving a match point along the way. Shelton’s upcoming match is expected to be challenging against a formidable competitor.
