TORONTO, 14 August, 2026 (Ghufran): Ben Shelton successfully defended his Canadian Open title with a straight-sets victory over fellow American Brandon Nakashima, securing his second Masters 1000 crown and seventh career ATP title.Shelton defeated Nakashima 6-3, 7-6(4) in Thursday’s all-American final to claim his second consecutive Canadian Open championship.The final marked the first all-American Masters 1000 championship match since Andy Roddick defeated Mardy Fish in Cincinnati in 2003. The result also provided an encouraging boost for American men’s tennis ahead of the US Open, where the United States has not produced a men’s singles champion since Roddick’s triumph in 2003.Shelton arrived in Canada after a difficult run of results, including a first-round exit at Wimbledon, a second-round defeat at Roland Garros and just one victory across his first four Masters 1000 tournaments of the season.

However, the American rediscovered his best form on the Canadian hard courts, winning the tournament without dropping a set.“To play the way that I’ve played this week, to go through this draw without dropping a set, I think it speaks a lot to the work that I’ve been putting in, but it speaks a lot to my mental toughness,” Shelton said after the victory.The fifth seed took control of the opening set after the two players traded holds until 3-3. Shelton repeatedly attacked Nakashima’s second serve and broke for a 4-3 lead before securing the set.Nakashima, playing in his first Masters 1000 final, fought back strongly in the second set and forced a tiebreak. Shelton again took the initiative with an early mini-break before sealing the championship with a superb forehand winner.Shelton became the first Canadian Open champion since Novak Djokovic in 2016 to win the tournament without dropping a set. He also became the first player since Rafael Nadal in 2019 to successfully defend the Canadian Open title.