08/13/26 10:07:00
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08/13 22:06 CDT Shelton successfully defends National Bank Open title, beating
Nakashima in an all-American final
Shelton successfully defends National Bank Open title, beating Nakashima in an
all-American final
MONTREAL (AP) --- Ben Shelton successfully defended his National Bank Open
title, beating Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 7-6 (4) in an all-American final Thursday
night.
The fifth-seeded Shelton has seven career ATP Tour victories, also winning this
year in Dallas, Munich and Stuttgart. He won the Canadian event last year in
Toronto.
"Tennis-wise, this has been one of the best weeks of my life," Shelton told the
crowd. "I played some of the best tennis that I've ever played, and to be able
to put that on display here in front of you has been an honor. So, thank you
guys for bringing the energy all week."
Shelton didn't drop a set in the tournament. The first repeat winner in Canada
since Rafael Nadal in 2019, the 23-year-old left-hander will move up to sixth
in the world ranking.
Shelton served at 142 mph without surrendering a break point throughout the
match that lasted 1 hour, 27 minutes.
"He's been playing at an insane level, it really has been incredible to see his
career so far," Nakashima said about Shelton. "He's going to be a top player
for his whole career."
The 28th-seeded Nakashima won his lone tour title in 2022 in San Diego.
In the doubles final, Brazil's Rafael Matos and Orlando Luz edged Croatia's
Mate Pavic and El Salvador's Marcelo Arevalo 5-7, 6-4, 10-6.
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