Ben Shelton's reflection on Sinner and Djokovic after withdrawing from Canada
The American did not want to discuss the points he will have to defend next week in Canada, but he did allow himself to stand up for some of his locker room teammates who have chosen to skip the tournament.
Ben Shelton experienced an unforgettable moment twelve months ago at the Masters 1000 in Canada, an episode that this summer we do not know if it will bring him the same level of happiness. Before facing the major title defense of the season, the American spoke at a press conference about his impressions.
Perhaps we cannot easily label him as a favorite – the presence of Alexander Zverev forces us to regard the German as the main rival to beat – but it is fitting to consider Ben Shelton as one of the main attractions for this upcoming Masters 1000 in Canada. He is the champion, the last man to walk out of there through the big door, so his words are essential before play begins. These were his comments days before the celebration starts.
Ben Shelton Relieves Pressure of Defending His Title in Canada
"For me, I tend to focus more on the Race than on the ranking. It is something I think about much less. What excites me is playing a part of the season where I always perform very well. I've never been someone who worries too much about defending points. That's just not in my nature. The important thing for me is to have another opportunity to play great tennis before the US Open. That is my main objective here. If you are always thinking about defending points or about the weeks where you did or didn’t earn points, it’s very easy to lose your mental focus. I prefer to concentrate on my work during this 2026, on what I’m doing and on what I want to achieve from now until the end of the season."
Eager for His Favorite Time of Year
"For me, playing three tournaments on this tour is the perfect amount. I want to play as many matches as possible. I probably played a few too many last year before the US Open, but I’m the type of player who plays better the more I compete, as long as my body holds up. It’s a great three-tournament swing before having a week off leading up to the US Open. This is one of my favorite parts of the season and one of my best stretches on the calendar. I don’t want to miss any of these tournaments."
Ben Shelton Defends Sinner and Djokovic for Their Withdrawal from Canada
"Jannik knows himself; Novak does too. Obviously, I’m doing something different. I might do the same if I had won Wimbledon. I did not. It’s hard to criticize those players for the decisions they make during the season when they are trying to maintain their level and take care of their health. I don’t think two-week tournaments are sustainable in the long term, though I’m not sure what the best alternative would be."
Happy to Return to the Place Where He Became Champion
"It’s fantastic to be back. It’s a tournament I love to play. I won last year in Toronto, but Montreal is a great city and a very fun place to compete. I’m very happy to be here again."
Accustomed to Weather Delays
"This is something normal. It happens many times throughout the year and, honestly, it’s usually much worse than what we are experiencing now. I haven’t even started playing yet, so it hasn’t really affected me. I’ve been able to train normally, and we’ll see what happens in the coming days."
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