Ben Shelton has successfully defended his title as the men's singles champion at the National Bank Open, showcasing an impressive performance throughout the tournament. The fifth seed from the United States triumphed over fellow American Brandon Nakashima with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (4) during the final held at IGA Stadium in Montreal.
This victory marks Shelton’s second career ATP Masters 1000 title, following his win at the same event in Toronto last year. With this latest achievement, Shelton has ascended to the sixth position in the ATP rankings, solidifying his status among the elite players on the tour.
The 23-year-old demonstrated exceptional skill, particularly on serve, reaching speeds of 230 kilometers per hour and remaining unbroken throughout the match, which lasted for one hour and 27 minutes. His performance was highlighted by his ability to control the game, even against his opponent’s strong serve.
Nakashima, who was seeded 28th, struggled to find his rhythm on return, winning only 17 percent of his return points in what was his first-ever final at the ATP 1000 level. Despite his challenges, the 25-year-old showcased moments of brilliance, particularly in the second set where he matched Shelton’s power and resilience, managing to push the set into a tiebreak after coming back from a precarious position of 30-0 down.
During the decisive tiebreak, Shelton surged ahead following a spectacular cross-court forehand, taking a 4-2 lead. He maintained his composure, successfully holding serve after that to ultimately close out the match with a ripping forehand down the line on his second championship point. Celebrations ensued as Shelton flexed his muscles and embraced his team courtside.
The first set initially saw Shelton break Nakashima’s serve at 4-3, which demonstrated his growing dominance as the match progressed. Following this break, Shelton continued to build momentum, delivering blistering passing shots and maintaining relentless defense along the baseline, leading to another break that secured him the first set in just 32 minutes.
Nakashima began the match strongly, serving well and logging four aces to claim the initial game. However, as the match continued, Shelton adapted his strategy and began to gain the upper hand, ultimately outperforming Nakashima in key moments of the match.
In the doubles final earlier in the tournament, Brazil’s Rafael Matos and Orlando Luz emerged victorious against Croatia’s Mate Pavic and El Salvador’s Marcelo Arevalo. This year’s edition of the National Bank Open, boasting a total prize pool of $9.42 million, attracted a record attendance of over 309,492 fans, despite experiencing interruptions from rain and notable withdrawals from several top players.
Among the high-profile absentees were World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. Additionally, the local favorite Félix Auger-Aliassime withdrew just hours before his first match due to a back injury. Top seed Alexander Zverev exited in the second round, which allowed Shelton to emerge as the highest seed left in the tournament from the round of 16 onwards, while several young talents including Rafael Jodar, Joao Fonseca, and Learner Tien made significant impacts with their breakout performances.
Looking ahead, the men’s tournament is set to shift to Toronto next year, while Montreal will continue to host the women’s event. This move promises to bring new excitement and challenges for players as they navigate the competitive landscape of professional tennis.
