Shelton meets Nakashima, Jódar’s executioner, in the Montreal final

Ben Shelton won this Wednesday with authority Learner Tien (6-2 and 6-3) and was quoted with Brandon Nakashimaexecutioner of the Spanish Rafael Jódar, in an American derby in the final of the Montreal Masters 1,000.

Shelton, current champion of this tournament, needed only 84 minutes to beat Tien, who had eliminated the Spaniard Daniel Merida in the quarterfinals.

For Shelton, number ten in the world ranking, it was the 100th victory in his career on a fast surface, a figure achieved when he was only 23 years old.

He will play his tenth final on the ATP circuit this Thursday and will fight for the seventh title of his career. He confirmed himself to be unbeatable against American rivals, with whom he has a record of 16-3 since the beginning of 2025.

He had no trouble imposing his game against Tien and the most complicated moment of his match was in the second set, when he suffered injuries to his elbow and left hand after a strong collision with the wall in an attempt to extend a point.

He needed medical attention to stop the hemorrhagebut he was able to continue without major problems and sealed his place in the final.

A Nakashima awaits, which Shelton won in the five previous matches, with a balance of 11 sets to one.

Nakashima blocked Jódar’s path, defeating him 7-6(3) and 6-4 in two hours and two minutes to reach the first final of his career in a Masters 1,000.