Shelton wins National Bank Open

The 22-year-old fourth seed defeated Karen Khachanov to capture the National Bank Open title, becoming the first American winner since 2003.

Ben Shelton wins the National Bank Open in Canada first American winner since 2003

Ben Shelton defeated Karen Khachanov 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(3) to win the National Bank Open in Toronto. The 22-year-old American, seeded fourth, rallied from a set down and closed the match by winning 14 consecutive points on serve, with seven aces in the deciding set. The victory lifts him to a career-high world ranking of No. 6 and adds a third Masters 1000 title to his resume.

Shelton’s run came after a week that included an all-American semifinal against Taylor Fritz. The event was lighter on some top names as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz skipped the tournament to prepare for the U.S. Open. In doubles, Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool edged Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski 6-3 6-7(5) 13-11, saving four match points along the way.

Shelton’s win signals a potential rise for American men at the highest level, showing the mental toughness needed to win tight matches on big stages. His ability to stay calm under pressure and finish with a flourish matters as he starts to climb the rankings and build momentum into the U.S. Open season. If this performance is a sign of consistency, it could widen the field of credible American title threats beyond the current top names.

That momentum, however, should be weighed against context. The Toronto field was not as deep as in other years due to top players staying home, which tempers the broader takeaway about a wholesale shift in who dominates hard court events. Shelton will need to translate this success to upcoming Masters 1000 events and Grand Slams to confirm a true breakthrough.

Highlights

The road ahead will test him, but this trophy proves Shelton has the talent to chase more big titles.