Shelton, after being crowned again in Canada: "This week has been a gigantic step forward"

Ben Shelton did not have enough last year with the title in Toronto, as he has now repeated it in Montreal this year. The American has managed to defend the title of the Masters 1000 of Canada with flying colors, showing his best tennis of the year. He suffered in the final against Brandon Nakashima, who was also coming in stellar form, but he could do nothing against the overwhelming version of the player from Atlanta, who won the match by 6-3, 7-6(4).

About his great performance when playing in Canada, the differences between the titles in Toronto and Montreal, the constant pressure to improve in tennis, and his goal of getting closer to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, he spoke at the press conference after his victory and before heading to the Masters 1000 of Cincinnati.

Ben Shelton feels like a Canadian after repeating title in the Masters 1000 of Canada

"I feel like I'm at home here. I believe the conditions suit my game very well. I feel that the crowd really supports me here, and I think these are incredible tournaments. They're amazing cities, and it's a lot of fun to be here and compete. So winning two years in a row means a lot to me, and I'm very happy with the level I've shown this week."

Shelton knew he would have a tough match against Brandon Nakashima

"It was something I expected. I had seen how he was playing this week. I watched videos of him, and he was serving spectacularly. All other parts of his game were also really good, but his serve is his biggest weapon. I knew he was going to come out firing. And he did; he started very strong with his serve. Today he found many spots, hitting a lot of lines, especially in the second set. The way he served when he was under pressure was incredible; he had some decisive serves."

"When he hit that flat serve to the deuce side, he had to touch the line to win that point against me. I was covering that area well today, and still, he found that line over and over again. He deserves a lot of credit for the way he played this week and how he played tonight. He's playing at a huge level."

Ben Shelton boasts about his final and great week

"Tonight, I put on a very complete demonstration of my game: the way I moved around the court, how I hit the ball, my serve, and my return. I think I was very versatile. I played all-court tennis. I'm very happy with how the match turned out. And finishing the match with a winning forehand down the line, falling back, feels really good, without a doubt."

"I think I managed it simply without thinking about it. To be honest, it's not something I usually think about too much. I approach each match for what it is. I'm not someone who looks beyond the draw. I don't think about who is left because I’m very focused on the opponent in front of me."

Image

"Also, this week I knew I would face several players who had beaten me before. In the case of the semifinal, it was a player I had never beaten. So I think in some of those matches I was the supposed favorite, at least from my perspective. That’s why it didn't matter too much for me."

Shelton hopes that the Montreal title allows him to regain his best level for the US Open

"For me, this week has been a huge step forward, even more important than what I did in Toronto last year because of the way I achieved it. I think I was much more precise and focused. At times, I was an elite returner. But the way I was able to break serves, the way I did it, my ability to play both defensively and offensively, really excites me about the evolution I'm going through."

"Throughout this season on hard courts, I feel like I've been improving in every tournament. And obviously, we are still at the beginning of the US Open swing, and there's still a lot of hard-court tennis ahead this year. I'm really looking forward to seeing what I can achieve from here on out."

Shelton wants to keep working to get closer to Alcaraz and Sinner

"It's a constant process for me. I love having players ahead of me that I can chase. It's always been that way throughout my career. I've never simply been the best. I've always been pursuing the best. You could say I've been a bit behind in my progression, and I think that has driven me in all aspects of my tennis."

"I will keep working to chase the players in front of me. Obviously also trying to stay ahead of the young players coming up on tour. I've played against many young players this week. They are really the future of the sport, players of an incredibly high level, and more keep emerging."

"I believe that tennis is a sport in which you have to keep improving or you get left behind. My job, with the abilities I have, is to try to maximize my potential, to do my best in this sport, and to become the best version of myself. That’s where my focus is."

Shelton explains the main difference between his titles in Toronto and Montreal

"Without a doubt, my returning game, one hundred percent. But also my offensive tennis from the baseline. I think I won the tournament last year in a much more complicated way. I wasn't focused all the time. I had ups and downs throughout the week and in different matches. Many times I was on the ropes. I found a way to survive."

CHAMPION IN CANADA. AGAIN. 🍁

Shelton defends his Masters 1000 title, as he defeats Nakashima 6-3 7-6(4)!@BenShelton #NBO26 pic.twitter.com/PIKU1VeKeA

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 14, 2026

"This year I was closer to the baseline in my position. I was more aggressive with my shots. I was cleaner and more precise in how I approached my service games. I attacked at the right moments. I was able to turn defense into offense much quicker and more efficiently. I also think I moved a lot better. That’s why this victory is much more satisfying."

Shelton is already thinking about Cincinnati

"I'm someone who improves a lot by playing matches. When I play many matches, I find my level. Reaching the final stages of a tournament and knowing that I'm heading to the next one, Cincinnati, which starts in a few days, is huge for my confidence and helps maintain the momentum."

"Compared to last year, I think this also answers a bit of the previous question: winning the way I did this week will be much easier on my body in preparation for Cincinnati. Last year I arrived completely beat up in Cincinnati, and we were just trying to survive there. I feel like physically I'm in a much better place this year."

A much-needed title for Shelton after an inconsistent 2026

"It means a lot. It hasn't been my best stretch in the big tournaments. I’ve had some important moments this year with the titles I’ve won. And when I get going in a tournament, it’s hard to stop me. But until now, I hadn’t performed in the big events at the level I wanted."

"It's always good to be able to change that dynamic. I believe tennis is a sport that gives you many opportunities to compete. The year is very long, which is both a blessing and a curse because you always have something new to fight for, another opportunity to show up. For me, I know that one match can change everything," concludes a Ben Shelton who is now a double champion of the Masters 1000 of Canada.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shelton, tras coronarse de nuevo en Canadá: "Esta semana ha sido un paso adelante gigantesco"