Montreal, 14 August (H.S.): American Ben Shelton successfully defended his Canadian Open title on Thursday night, defeating compatriot Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 7-6(4) in the final. The victory earned Shelton his second Masters 1000 title and the seventh ATP title of his career.

The all-American final was the first at Masters 1000 level since Andy Roddick faced Mardy Fish in the 2003 Cincinnati final. The result also provides an encouraging boost for American men's tennis, with no US player having won the men's singles title at the US Open since Roddick's triumph in 2003.

Shelton makes remarkable turnaround after difficult spell

Shelton arrived in Canada following a difficult stretch of form. He suffered a first-round exit at Wimbledon after losing in the second round of the French Open. He had also managed just one victory across the first four Masters 1000 tournaments of the season.

However, Shelton produced a remarkable turnaround on Canada's hard courts, winning the title without dropping a single set throughout the tournament.

Playing the way I did this week and getting through this draw without dropping a set shows the work I've been putting in. It also reflects my mental strength, Shelton said.

This year hasn't been easy or straightforward for me. To play at my best level with a performance like this is incredibly special. I don't really have the words to describe it, he added.

Shelton dominates opening set

The fifth-seeded Shelton repeatedly targeted Nakashima's second serve in the opening set. Both players held serve through 3-3, but Shelton then produced an impressive forehand return against Nakashima's second serve to break for a 4-3 lead.

He subsequently capitalised on Nakashima's increasingly vulnerable forehand to secure another break and close out the opening set 6-3.

Shelton holds firm in tiebreak

Playing in his first Masters 1000 final, Nakashima attempted to fight his way back in the second set and managed to take Shelton into a tiebreak.

Shelton, however, secured an early mini-break in the tiebreak to establish an advantage. He then sealed the set and the championship with a superb forehand winner, winning the tiebreak 7-4.

With the victory, Shelton became the first player since Novak Djokovic in 2016 to win the Canadian Open without dropping a set. He also became the first player since Rafael Nadal in 2019 to successfully defend the Canadian Open title.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar