Ben Shelton, at just 22 years old, reached the final of an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time. He beat Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3 in a thrilling all-American semifinal in Toronto. Shelton became the first American born in the 2000s to reach a Masters 1000 final, marking a major milestone in his career.
“I’m pretty excited. This has been a great week for me,” Shelton said in his on-court interview. “My level’s improved with every match, and the crowds have gotten louder each time. I really appreciate you guys, you kept me going.”
This victory places Shelton in his fifth ATP final. His previous titles include an ATP 500 win in Tokyo in 2023. This week in Toronto, he achieved back-to-back wins over Top 10 players, including Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals.
Dominant Performance: Shelton Overpowers Fritz in Semifinal
Fritz, ranked No. 4, struggled to find a way through Shelton’s impressive serve. The 22-year-old lost just nine points across his eight service games, never facing deuce. Shelton broke Fritz three times in nine service games, including a break to win the match. Fritz double-faulted on match point.
Shelton, with a 26-1 record this year after winning the first set, has been in outstanding form. His only loss came in Monte Carlo, where he was defeated by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
This win over Fritz also equaled Shelton’s career-best win by ranking, having previously defeated No. 4 Jannik Sinner in Shanghai in 2023.
Shelton Ready for Khachanov in Final for First Masters 1000 Title
Shelton will face Karen Khachanov in the final after Khachanov defeated Alexander Zverev in three sets. He triumphed over Khachanov in their only previous meeting earlier this year at Indian Wells, winning 6-3, 7-5.
“I’ve played finals before, and I’ve won some and lost some,” Shelton said. “There are a lot of nerves, but I’m really excited. I can’t wait to go for my biggest title tomorrow.”
Shelton aims for his first-ever ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto, with all eyes on him as he seeks to claim the biggest win of his young career.
Stay tuned for all the latest Sports News, follow Todaysmatchprediction on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
