Ben Shelton’s journey was going like a smooth ride so far as the 22-year-old looked nearly invincible in Toronto. For more than a week, the World No.7 has dominated his rivals with sheer conviction and unmatched skills on the court. His compatriot and semi-final opponent, Taylor Fritz, was no exception. Shelton beat Fritz comfortably in straight sets while also frustrating him to the point where he broke his racket after the loss. Naturally, going into the final on Thursday, Shelton appeared to be a fan favorite, and his performance didn’t disappoint either. But then, there came a heavy blow.

During the epic title clash against Russian opponent Karen Khachanov, Shelton failed to find the momentum initially. The Russian took the first set in a tiebreak. But the American bounced back to snatch the second one and leveled the fight. Shortly after that, however, Shelton called for a medical time out (MTO). It seems there’s an issue in his quad area (on the front of the thigh).

Update: Shelton overcomes pain to defeat Khachanov in a thrilling final.

It seems pain only made Shelton stronger in the end. Just when it appeared that Khachanov was taking the match away from him in the third set, the 22-year-old brought out his A-game. From trailing 4-5 at one point in the decider, Shelton fought back hard and how.

He pushed the set into a tiebreak before besting Khachanov. After two hours and 47 minutes, he was the last man standing with a final score line of 6-7, 6-4, 7-6(3), having turned his dream into reality. The moment Khachanov hit the last shot that struck the net, the crowd erupted in joy while celebrating Shelton’s phenomenal triumph. It was special, and his post-match reaction made it obvious.

Ben Shelton shares honest feelings after clinching maiden ATP Masters 1000 title

The American youngster was ecstatic after claiming his biggest career win, which also happens to be his first ATP title of the 2025 season. Earlier this year, he did get a chance to win a trophy at the BMW Open. However, World No.3 and German pro Alexander Zverev bested him that time in the summit clash.

On Thursday, however, Shelton was simply glued to his goal. Even a momentary MTO couldn’t stop the inevitable – his maiden Masters 1000 victory. “It’s a surreal feeling,” he reacted while soaking in the moment.

Having finally found the “sweet spot” he had been looking for, the 22-year-old added, “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.” For the uninitiated, he’s now become the youngest American to win an ATP 1000-level tournament since Andy Roddick clinched the Miami crown, aged 21, back in 2004.

Shelton also congratulated Khachanov for his amazing performance. After all, the Russian almost took away the trophy from him. “I’m sorry about tonight. Incredible week. I watched a lot of your matches. The level you’ve played this week is really really high. The way you were hitting the ball tonight, not many people in the world can hit the ball like that. I’m lucky to have gotten out of this with the win. But I’m just happy to see you back knocking on the door for top 10.”

Following the historic Toronto victory, Shelton’s also reached the fourth spot in ATP Live Rankings. Which means, he’s expected to stay in the top 7 before this season’s ATP Finals tournament kicks off in November. What are your thoughts on the American’s emphatic win? Has it come at the right time before his US Open campaign in New York? Let us know in the comments below.