Ben Shelton stood on the court in Toronto, his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy gleaming under the lights. The breakthrough moment everyone had been waiting for had finally arrived. But when asked if his journey mirrored Jannik Sinner’s meteoric rise in 2023, the young American had a clear message: his path was entirely his own.
How Does Ben Shelton View Comparisons to Jannik Sinner’s Career Path?
Ben Shelton climbed to a career-best world ranking of No. 6 after winning the National Bank Open in Toronto on Thursday night. In an exciting match against Karen Khachanov, Shelton claimed his first ATP Masters 1000 title, making him the youngest American to win such an event in 20 years.
Following his triumph, Shelton was asked if he sees any resemblance to Jannik Sinner’s breakthrough moment in 2023. The comparison seemed natural, given both players’ young ages and rapid ascension to tennis’s biggest stages.
However, Shelton firmly disagreed with the parallel, proudly emphasizing how he carved his own unique path to glory.
“I think everyone has a different path. Everyone’s story is written differently. I’ve kind of done it my way. There’s been a lot of guys to look up to, just because how young they have been when they have broken through, and have had so much success at big tournaments. Tennis seems to be a sport that has young champions all the time, which is not common or normal, it’s ultra impressive,” he said.
Ben Shelton wins his first ATP Masters 1000 tournament 🏆 pic.twitter.com/dvRzvwzeq1
— ESPN (@espn) August 8, 2025
The victory didn’t come easy. After losing the first set in a close tiebreak, he fought hard to win the second set and then sealed the match in another tense tiebreak, with a final scoreline of 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3).
How Did Bryan Shelton’s Coaching Help Turn the Match Around?
After Shelton lost the first set against Khachanov, the momentum seemed to favor his opponent. That’s when his coach and father, Bryan, stepped forward with crucial guidance that would prove to be the turning point of the match.
The advice from his father turned out to be transformative, as the tactical adjustment addressed a specific problem that was allowing Khachanov to dominate the early stages of their encounter.
“He was right. Karen was bullying me around the court. The way he hit his forehand tonight, the way he was cutting off the court, the way he was serving, it felt like I had a freight train coming at me. So it was uncomfortable to move forward. The ball was coming at me even faster,” Shelton said.
The solution required Shelton to shift from a defensive mindset to a more aggressive strategy that could match Khachanov’s intensity.
“But I started being able to redirect, get some big shots off of my own, and kind of flip the momentum of that match. So that was huge for me. I love the way that he coaches me. He usually leaves stuff up to me. He gives me a lot of suggestions. He knows me better than anyone in the world, so he’s well qualified to give me those suggestions.”
Shelton is now looking forward to kicking off his campaign in Cincinnati with an opening showdown against Camilo Ugo Carabelli, scheduled for August 9.
