America Waited 23 Years: Shelton and Nakashima in Historic Montreal Final
First all-American Masters 1000 final since 2003, when Roddick and Fish played in Cincinnati
First all-American Masters 1000 final since 2003, when Roddick and Fish played in Cincinnati
Ben Shelton and Brandon Nakashima have reached the final of the Masters 1000 in Montreal, writing a new chapter in American tennis history. This marks the first all-American final at this level in 23 years and only the 15th in the entire history of the Masters 1000 series.
The last time two Americans faced off for the title was in 2003 in Cincinnati, when Andy Roddick defeated Mardy Fish. Since then, American men had not managed to replicate that feat until this year's tournament in Montreal.
Defending champion Ben Shelton defeated fellow American Learner Tien in the semifinals 6:2, 6:3 in just one hour and 24 minutes. Tien had beaten him twice before, but Shelton didn't drop a single service game, saved all four break points, and won 81 percent of points on his first serve.
The match wasn't without drama, though. In the second set, Shelton had a scary moment when he ran into the wall behind the court. He needed on-court medical attention for a cut on his elbow and left hand, but quickly recovered and closed out the match.
"I'm really happy with how I played. Learner gives me a lot of trouble, and I'm very glad I was able to win in this fashion," Shelton said after the match.
Tien reached his first Masters 1000 semifinal in Montreal, and his impressive run has lifted him to No. 12 on the ATP live rankings, a career high. Shelton, who had lost both previous meetings against Tien, defeated the 20-year-old competing in his first Masters semifinal.
This will be Shelton's second Masters 1000 final, and he has the chance to defend his title from last year in Montreal. This season, he has already won titles in Dallas, Stuttgart, and Munich, and he boasts a perfect record in finals.
Brandon Nakashima reached his first Masters 1000 final after defeating 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar 7:6 (3), 6:4. The match lasted two hours and four minutes, with Nakashima finishing with 28 winners and winning 81 percent of points on his first serve.
The real drama unfolded at 5:4 in the second set when the American had to save four break points. He held his nerve and then converted his fifth match point to seal the win.
"The last few games were crazy. I knew I had to keep fighting and save a few break points. Luckily, my serve came through when I needed it most," Nakashima said.
This result has moved him up to No. 22 on the ATP live rankings, a new career high. His semifinal opponent, Jodar, also made a huge breakthrough, reaching No. 11 on the live list after starting the year as the world No. 165. In Montreal, he had previously eliminated Arthur Fils, Jiri Lehecka, and Lorenzo Musetti.
Shelton is defending his title and has experience in big finals, while Nakashima is chasing his first Masters 1000 trophy and only his second ATP title overall. Nakashima has played four ATP finals before, but never at a Masters or even a 500-level event, and he has one title, from San Diego in 2022. Interestingly, Shelton has a perfect record against his compatriot, having beaten Nakashima all five times they've played, including last year's match at the Canadian tournament. Shelton is the favorite in the final, having won their last five meetings against Nakashima, who is two years older.
The final is scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. local time, which is 2 a.m. Friday Central European Time.
