Ben Shelton wins National Bank Open title in Montreal

Ben Shelton successfully defended his title at the National Bank Open in Montreal, defeating fifth seed Brandon Nakashima in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(4). This victory marks Shelton’s seventh career ATP singles title and his fourth of the year, following previous wins in Dallas, Munich, and Stuttgart.

With this win, the 23-year-old American becomes only the fourth player in the 21st century to defend a title at this Canadian tournament, joining Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal. The victory also facilitates Shelton’s climb from 10th to 6th in the world rankings.

Reflecting on his performance, Shelton emphasized the importance of mental resilience and the work put in during training. He noted that becoming a great player requires “raising one’s minimum level” to ensure victories even on days when playing at a peak level is not possible. Shelton now moves on to the Cincinnati Masters ahead of the US Open.