Ben Shelton defends Canadian Open title by beating Brandon Nakashima

Ben Shelton successfully defended his Canadian Open title with a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Brandon Nakashima. The win marks the fourth professional title for the 23-year-old American.

Shelton joined an elite group of players by retaining this specific championship. He is the fourth man since the turn of the century to defend the Canadian title, following the achievements of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray.

During the final, Shelton controlled the match through his serving and his ability to win extended rallies. He secured his first break of serve in the opening set with a return winner at 3-3. He did not face a single break point during the contest and successfully converted two of his four break point opportunities.

Shelton attributed his performance to his recent training and mental strength. He noted that his ability to remain focused throughout the week allowed him to play versatile, all-court tennis. He expressed satisfaction with his movement on the court and his ball striking.

Nakashima, the world number 22, reached his second Masters-level final during the tournament. Despite the defeat, he described the period as one of the best weeks of his life and expressed gratitude to his family and support team for their help throughout his career.