In a dramatic showdown at the National Bank Open, Ben Shelton emerged victorious against Karen Khachanov with a score of 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3). This victory marks Shelton's third title and his most significant win to date.

A Historic Win for Shelton

At just 22 years old, Shelton has become the first American to win the Masters 1000 hard-court event since Andy Roddick in 2003. Shelton's previous victories include hard-court wins in Tokyo in 2023 and a clay-court triumph in Houston last year.

The Road to Victory

Shelton's path to the final was anything but easy. He faced intense competition, including a tough semifinal match against fellow American Taylor Fritz, which he won 6-4, 6-3. In the final, Shelton showcased his resilience and skill, particularly in the third set where he delivered seven of his 16 aces and won 14 consecutive points on serve to force the final-set tiebreaker.

Quotes from the Champion

"It's a surreal feeling," Shelton said. "It's been a long week, not an easy path to the final. My best tennis came out when it mattered most. I was clutch, I persevered, I was resilient. All the qualities I like to see in myself."

Khachanov's Performance

Despite the loss, Karen Khachanov had a commendable tournament. The 29-year-old Russian, who has seven career victories all on hard courts, demonstrated his prowess by surviving a match point in the semifinals against top-seeded Alexander Zverev.

Doubles Final

In the doubles category, Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool secured a thrilling victory over Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski with a score of 6-3, 6-7 (5), 13-11. The second-seeded Wimbledon champions have now won 19 straight matches.

Looking Ahead

With this win, Shelton will move up to a career-high sixth in the world rankings. Both Shelton and Khachanov are now preparing for the upcoming US Open, where they aim to continue their impressive form.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.