Ben Shelton has won his biggest title to date, capturing the Masters 1000 event in Toronto with a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory over Karen Khachanov on Thursday night. This win marks a new career-high ranking for Shelton, who rises from No. 7 to No. 6.
What happened in Toronto?
Ben Shelton's victory in Toronto was a come-from-behind effort, with the 22-year-old American overcoming a first-set loss to win in three sets. The win marked Shelton's fourth new career-high ranking in a row, with the previous three coming on July 14th, July 21st, and July 28th.
Why it matters for Ben Shelton
Shelton's rise to No. 6 is significant, as it puts him just 330 points behind No. 5-ranked Jack Draper. With Draper not competing in Cincinnati this year, Shelton has a chance to continue his climb up the rankings. Shelton made his Top 10 debut a few weeks before Wimbledon, at No. 10, after a semifinal showing on the grass of Stuttgart.
What comes next?
The new ATP rankings are backdated to Monday, August 4th, with the next update coming after Cincinnati on Monday, August 18th. Shelton will look to continue his strong form in Cincinnati, where he will face a tough field of competitors. Points from Canada and Cincinnati last year will all drop off the ATP rankings on the post-Cincinnati rankings this year.
Ben Shelton's cascade of career-highs includes rises from No. 10 to No. 9 on July 14th, No. 9 to No. 8 on July 21st, No. 8 to No. 7 on July 28th, and No. 7 to No. 6 on August 4th. This consistent improvement has marked Shelton as one of the top young players in the world.
The Masters 1000 event in Toronto was a significant win for Shelton, with the tournament featuring many of the world's top players. Shelton's victory over Khachanov was a notable upset, with Khachanov rising from No. 16 to No. 12 after reaching the final.
And with Shelton's rise to No. 6, he passes former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the rankings. This is a significant milestone for Shelton, who continues to make a name for himself in the tennis world.
So what can we expect from Shelton in the coming weeks? With his strong form and consistent improvement, Shelton is likely to remain a top contender in the tennis world. His next tournament will be a key test of his abilities, as he looks to continue his climb up the rankings.
But for now, Shelton can celebrate his biggest title to date, and his new career-high ranking of No. 6. This is a significant achievement for the young American, and marks a major milestone in his tennis career. On August 4th, Shelton reached a new career-high ranking, and he will look to continue this trend in the coming weeks.