Ben Shelton advanced to the Montreal Masters final on Wednesday, defeating Learner Tien decisively despite suffering a significant injury during the match. The defending champion crashed into the court barrier in the second set, requiring medical attention to treat bleeding from his elbow and hand. Despite the painful setback, Shelton recovered quickly and dominated the remainder of the contest, winning 6-2, 6-3 to secure his spot in Thursday’s championship match.
Shelton will face fellow American Brandon Nakashima in an all-American final, a pairing that marks the first all-U.S. Masters final since 2003. Nakashima earned his first ATP Masters 1000 final appearance by narrowly defeating Spain’s Rafael Jodar in an intense semifinal that lasted over two hours. The match featured a dramatic final game that extended beyond 10 minutes, with Jodar saving four match points before Nakashima finally prevailed 7-6, 6-4.
Shelton holds a commanding head-to-head record against his opponent, having won all five previous meetings, including their encounter in Toronto last year. The defending champion has already secured three titles this season across different surfaces and expressed confidence heading into the final, while Nakashima takes encouragement from his serve and forehand performance in the semifinal.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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