Shelton wins National Bank Open final

Ben Shelton captures the National Bank Open after a three set final against Karen Khachanov.

Ben Shelton wins National Bank Open title in Toronto

Ben Shelton, 22, defeated 11th seeded Karen Khachanov 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) to win the National Bank Open in Toronto on Thursday night. The fourth seed became the first American to win this Masters 1000 hard court event since Andy Roddick in 2003. Shelton has two prior titles on different surfaces, Tokyo in 2023 and Houston last year, and rises to a career high of world No. 6.

Shelton reached the final after a week of tight matches and a semifinal win over Taylor Fritz. Khachanov advanced by surviving a tough semifinal against Alexander Zverev. In the final, Shelton showed resilience, closing with seven aces in the third set and winning 14 straight points on serve to seal the victory. His father and coach, Bryan Shelton, called the moment rewarding as a trophy is not easily earned.

Sinner and Alcaraz skipped the expanded event as they prep for the U S Open, a note that shaped the field but not the outcome. Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool won the doubles title in a dramatic finish. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Shelton’s title signals a turning point for a rising American cohort. It confirms that a young player can win a big hard court event on the calendar without the usual backstory of a long breakout. The victory expands Shelton’s range and adds fuel to his climb toward the top echelon. The match also highlights how momentum in the early summer can carry a player into the U S Open and beyond, even when the strongest rivals are resting up. The broader question now is whether Shelton can convert this momentum into a deep run at the U S Open and sustain the pace through the late summer grind.

Highlights

Shelton’s rise adds momentum to American tennis