Shelton, one step away from defending his title: “This is where I want to be”

Ben Shelton is once again just a step away from glory in Canada, although not in the city where he touched glory twelve months ago. The American qualified for the final of the Masters 1000 in Montreal after decisively overcoming Learner Tien, thus stringing together a perfect week in which he has yet to drop a single set.

A year after winning the title in Toronto, Shelton now has the opportunity to defend his crown and lift another Masters 1000 title. The American acknowledged that getting here has not been easy, despite the strength of his results. “It would be disrespectful to say that any of these matches have been easy,” Shelton stated in a press conference, particularly recalling his matches against Jenson Brooksby and Joao Fonseca, in which he had to face challenging situations. “This tournament has not given anything for free, nothing resembling easy,” he explained.

For the North American, the experience of having to struggle during the tournament can even be beneficial for a final he expects to be extremely demanding. His opponent tonight will be Brandon Nakashima, whom Shelton has defeated in all their previous encounters, although several of them were decided in the tiebreak. The American does not take those precedents lightly and highlighted the evolution of his compatriot: “He is a great player; his game has improved every year. His forehand has become a huge weapon, and his serve has always been one of his great assets,” he evaluated.

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Shelton also emphasized Nakashima's other resources, especially a backhand that he considers “one of the best in the world,” along with his ability to play all over the court. “He is a force to be reckoned with on any surface,” he stated. Therefore, he expects a very different battle from the ones he has faced during this week and believes that the matchup is also a significant attraction for fans.

In search of the Toronto-Montreal combo

The final will also have a special significance for Shelton. A year ago, he won his first Masters 1000, and now he has the chance to become one of the few players able to immediately defend a title of this category. “It would be really nice,” he acknowledged. The American stated that competing for titles is exactly where he wants to be, regardless of whether it is an ATP 250, a 500, a Masters 1000, or a Grand Slam.

“Being here a year later and having the opportunity to back up what I did last year is something very special,” he confessed. Shelton knows he has a huge opportunity ahead of him to confirm his growth and continue a season that he himself has defined as a roller coaster. Against Nakashima, he will have the chance to close the week with another major title. “I am going to leave it all on the court,” he promised.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shelton, a un paso de defender su corona: “Aquí es donde quiero estar”