Ben Shelton is into his first ATP Masters 1000 event at the National Bank Open in Toronto. En route to the final, he had to upset the number two seed and fellow American, Taylor Fritz. While Shelton leads the head-to-head against the Russian, this is a different encounter. There is the added pressure of being in your first big tournament final.
Will Injury Or Nerves Derail Shelton?
He is coming in with a slight injury as well. Will that be an issue? It was not an issue in his semifinal encounter against Fritz. Ben Shelton learned from his one previous match and loss to Fritz. Despite taking the first set in their 2023 encounter in Indian Wells, he faltered. Last night, there was no faltering. He secured the first set and never looked back.
Embed from Getty ImagesBen Shelton Was Dialed In
Shelton served seven aces and no double faults. Furthermore, he protected his serve and denied Fritz two break point opportunities. In contrast Shelton had ten opportunities to break Fritz. His serve was definitely more dialed in than that of Fritz’s. While it is always a bummer to have two Americans competing prior to the final, it was a brilliant performance from the younger opponent.
Can Shelton Control The Nerves?
No matter how great you are as a tennis player, nerves are present. It is not the absence of nerves that makes you a champion, it is the ability to rise above the nerves and win. I am rooting for Ben Shelton! Yet do not underestimate the Russian. Karen Khachanov still has game and wants to prove that in the final. Khachanov is a former top ten player with his highest ranking at number eight.
Embed from Getty ImagesStatistics Favor Karen Khachanov
Khachanov has been to the finals of an ATP Masters 1000 event before. Thus, experience favors him. However, Shelton is fired up and hungry to win his first big title. It will come down to who is the freshest and can control their nerves best to play effective tennis. Let’s go Ben!
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