Ben Shelton, 22, reached the biggest final of his career after beating Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3 in the ATP Masters 1000 semifinal in Toronto. Shelton became the first American born in the 2000s to reach a Masters 1000 final. He played with poise and confidence throughout the match.
“I’m pretty excited. This has been a great week for me,” Shelton said in his on-court interview. “My level’s gotten better every match, and the crowds have gotten louder each time. I appreciate you guys. You kept me going.”
This victory marks Shelton’s fifth ATP final. He previously won the ATP 500 title in Tokyo in 2023. His run in Toronto also includes back-to-back wins over Top 10 players, with a win over Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals.
Shelton’s Serve and Breaks Dominate Fritz
“It’s been a long nine or 10 days—I’m not sure how long I’ve been here—but I hope you come back tomorrow. I’m excited to play for my first Masters 1000 title, and I can’t wait to do it in front of you.”
Fritz, ranked No. 4, struggled to break Shelton’s serve. Shelton lost just nine points across eight service games, never reaching deuce. He broke Fritz in three of his nine service games, including the final game. Fritz double-faulted on match point.
Shelton remains in top form with a 26-1 record this year after winning the first set. His only loss came in Monte Carlo against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Shelton’s win over Fritz equals his career-best ranking victory. He previously defeated No. 4 Jannik Sinner in Shanghai in 2023.
Shelton Eyes His First Masters 1000 Title Against Khachanov
Shelton will face Karen Khachanov in the final after Khachanov beat Alexander Zverev in a three-set thriller. He won his only previous encounter in Indian Wells earlier this year, 6-3, 7-5.
“I’ve played finals before—won some, lost some,” Shelton said. “It’s not easy. There are nerves and anticipation, but I’m really excited. Let’s go for the biggest one tomorrow.”
Shelton aims for his first Masters 1000 title, marking a defining moment in his young career. All eyes will be on him as he looks to take the next big step in Toronto.
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