Shelton wants to defend his title in Canada at all costs: he dominates Tien and sets up a matchup with Nakashima
Ben Shelton wants to become the champion of the Masters 1000 of Canada again, no matter what. And he is on his way to achieving it. The American is showing the best tennis of the season and has recovered that devastating and aggressive version of himself that allows him to beat anyone. He dominated Jakub Mensik decisively in the semifinals and now swept aside Learner Tien 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 24 minutes.
Thus, the Atlantan achieves his first victory against his compatriot in their third encounter, and above all, it allows him to be just one match away from claiming his second Masters 1000 in the tournament where he already lifted his first. If Shelton lifts his second trophy in Canada, it would give him a much-needed boost of confidence after a very inconsistent 2026 and would be the best possible showcase for the US Open, from which he had to withdraw in tears last year due to a shoulder injury.
Unreturnable Shelton return 😤@BenShelton #NBO26 pic.twitter.com/c3ZoDPRea9
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 13, 2026
Ben Shelton has won against Brandon Nakashima in all five encounters they have had throughout their careers
However, to do so, he will need to defeat another player who is in spectacular form, Brandon Nakashima. A high-flying final is expected between two big hitters.
Nakashima comes after defeating Rafa Jódar (7-6(3), 6-4) in what could be the best match of his career. He only allowed four points on his serve in the first set and will be seeking his first Masters 1000 in his first final.
Shelton overwhelmingly dominates the head-to-head between them with five victories in their five encounters. Their last duel was coincidentally at last year's Masters 1000 of Canada and it was an authentic thriller (6-7(8), 6-2, 7-6(5)).
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shelton quiere revalidar el tÃtulo en Canadá a toda costa: arrasa con Tien y se cita con Nakashima