Ben Shelton Makes History: American Defends Title in Montreal and Sets a Record

The prestigious ATP Masters 1000 tournament concluded in Montreal, Canada, serving as a stage for American tennis triumph this year. 23-year-old Ben Shelton confirmed his status as one of the leaders of world tennis by successfully defending last year's title. In the final match, he defeated his compatriot Brandon Nakashima, demonstrating character and technical superiority.

An American Derby in the Final

The decisive match of the Montreal tournament turned into a thrilling confrontation between two representatives of the USA. The final lasted 1 hour and 29 minutes, with the winner determined over two sets. Ben Shelton defeated Brandon Nakashima with a score of 6:3, 7:6. Notably, this was the sixth meeting in the head-to-head history of these athletes, and Shelton emerged victorious for the sixth time, demonstrating absolute dominance in their personal encounters.

The Road to the Top and Title Defense

The victory in Montreal holds special significance for Ben Shelton, as he managed to defend his Canadian Open title, which he previously won on the courts of Toronto. The path to this success was not easy: on his way to the final, the American confidently defeated a series of strong opponents. His record includes victories over Jenson Brooksby, Zizou Bergs, Joao Fonseca, Jakub Mensik, and Lerner Thien. Each match required maximum concentration and will to win from the athlete.

New Records and Season Statistics

Retaining the title allowed Shelton to write his name into the list of outstanding tennis players and set several significant records. For the American, this is the seventh ATP trophy in his career and the fourth in the 2026 season. Earlier this year, he already celebrated victories in Dallas, Munich, and Stuttgart. Such productivity confirms that Shelton is at the peak of his form and is one of the main contenders for high places in the world rankings.

Context of the 2026 Season

Ben Shelton's success in Montreal became one of the bright events of the 2026 tennis season. Earlier this season, Iga Swiatek won her first title after tense battles with Ukrainian tennis players, which also became an important event in the world of big tennis. The 2026 season promises to be full of bright victories and new records, and Ben Shelton has already established himself as one of its main heroes.