Three years after his first ATP victory, the 22-year-old Ben Shelton is a Masters 1000 champion! The young American conquered the Canada Masters in Toronto following a 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 triumph over Karen Khachanov.
A left-hander prevailed in two hours and 47 minutes for his career-best title and a place in the top-6 on the ATP ranking list. Ben is the tenth American with a Masters 1000 title and the sixth who achieved that before turning 23.
The younger player claimed five points more than his rival, as they battled down to the wire. Shelton played better behind the first serve, and Khachanov responded on the second.
¡El festejo de Ben Shelton con los ball kids! 🏆🫶#Toronto pic.twitter.com/SNS1XW8Gko
— ESPN Tenis (@ESPNtenis) August 8, 2025
Both players played against six break points. A left-hander denied five and provided two breaks. Karen tamed his strokes more efficiently, but it was not enough to carry him over the top.
Ben had the upper hand in the shortest exchanges up to four strokes, and his rival reduced the gap in the most extended ones. They provided six fine holds at the beginning of the duel.
Shelton experienced issues behind the initial shot at 3-3. He wasted game points and played a terrible drop shot on a break point to fall behind. The Russian saved a break point in the next one and moved 5-3 in front.
The American pulled the break back in game ten and extended the set. Khachanov served to stay in the set at 5-6 and faced three set points. The 11th seed saved them and held to introduce a tie break.
Ben Shelton, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot
Ben trailed 3-1 before taking the next four points for a 5-3 advantage. The 4th seed missed a backhand in the ninth point, and his rival seized a set point at 6-5 with a volley winner at the net, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 64 minutes.
They served well in the opening eight games of the second set. Shelton made a push on the return at 4-4 and drew the opponent's mistake for a break at 15 and the advantage.
The American served for the set in game ten and faced four break points. He denied them with winners and held after an entertaining point to take the set 6-4 and introduce a decider after an hour and 53 minutes.
Karen Khachanov, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot
The final set offered no chances for the returners. Karen held at love for a 6-5 lead, and Ben responded with a hold at love a few minutes later to introduce a deciding tie break.
Khachanov netted a forehand in the first point and experienced a mini-break. The American landed two powerful serves and moved 3-0 in front. The 4th seed claimed two more points on serve and forged a 5-2 advantage.
Ben painted a forehand return winner in the eighth point for 6-2 and four match points. The young gun seized the second with a forced error, sealing the deal and celebrating his career-best title at 22.
