One moment changed everything. Ben Shelton stood at 0-40, three break points down against Karen Khachanov in the National Bank Open final. Most 22-year-olds would crumble under that pressure. Instead, Shelton saved all three and turned a potential collapse into the most important victory of his career. The tennis world took notice.
How Did Ben Shelton Make History at the National Bank Open?
At just 22 years old, Ben Shelton made history on Thursday night in Toronto by becoming the youngest American in the last 20 years to win an ATP Masters 1000 title. His hard-earned victory came at the National Bank Open, where he defeated Karen Khachanov in a thrilling three-set final, with a final scoreline of 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3).
Now ranked a career-best World No. 6, Shelton typically dominates matches from the start. However, this time he proved he could also bounce back when facing adversity. During the showdown against Khachanov, Shelton made an impressive comeback in the second set. He saved three break points at 0-40 to hold his serve and win the set.
In the final set, even though Khachanov was serving very well and putting pressure on him, Shelton stayed strong. He managed to push the set into a tie-break, his third one of the tournament, and finished the match by winning his 14th point in a row on serve to seal the victory.
What Did Coco Gauff and Fellow Americans Say About Shelton’s Win?
Soon after he registered the win, his compatriot friends couldn’t hold back from celebrating the moment. From his close friend and two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff to doubles player Taylor Townsend, everyone had something meaningful to convey.
Gauff shared a post showcasing Shelton’s fierce pose, along with a caption that said: “big time @benshelton.”
Another update came from Taylor Townsend, who applauded the young champion’s performance by sharing a post followed by adoring emojis.
Meanwhile, Chris Eubanks shared the victory post originally uploaded by the ATP Tour. “Insane stuff @benshelton,” his caption said.
Why Did Tennis Legends Call Shelton’s Performance “Box Office”?
However, the celebration messages from members of the tennis community weren’t limited to Instagram, as other social media platforms also saw similar congratulatory posts.
The performance was enough to impress Serena Williams’ former coach Rennae Stubbs. She took to the social media platform X to share her analysis of Shelton’s commendable performance.
“Huge congrats @BenShelton!!! Masters 1000 champ. So deserved. Go gator! Get up and go,” she wrote.
Huge congrats @BenShelton !!! Masters 1000 champ. So deserved. Go gator! Get up and go!
— Rennae Stubbs ♈️ (@rennaestubbs) August 8, 2025
Former Australian pro John Millman was also one of the close spectators. Simply applauding Ben Shelton’s blockbuster performance, he wrote: “Shelton is box office.”
Shelton is box office.
— John Millman (@johnhmillman) August 8, 2025
As the event comes to an end, fans will now shift their attention to Cincinnati, where top-ranked pros including Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and others are set to compete in the next high-stakes event.