Ben Shelton Shocks de Minaur to Reach First Masters 1000 Semifinal
In a powerful display of precision and poise, Ben Shelton has stunned Alex de Minaur to reach his very first Masters 1000 semifinal at the Canadian Open. The American, just 22 years old, powered past de Minaur in straight sets — 6-3, 6-4 — in their first-ever meeting on tour, and it was clear from early on that he was locked in.
This quarterfinal was highly anticipated, especially given de Minaur’s incredible form coming into Toronto. The Aussie had been riding an eight-match winning streak, fresh off a title win in Washington, and he came into the match ranked ninth in the world. But Shelton had other plans.
From the first serve, it was evident that Shelton wasn’t going to let the occasion overwhelm him. He delivered 13 aces and put relentless pressure on de Minaur, who is known for his speed and defense but couldn’t quite find the rhythm this time around. The Aussie had his chances — he had break points early in both sets — but Shelton always found a way out with his booming serve or a heavy rally ball that kept de Minaur guessing.
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The turning point came midway through the first set when Shelton secured the first break. That single break was enough to give him the edge, as he calmly closed it out 6-3. In the second set, a back-and-forth exchange of breaks early on kept the match tense, but another timely break from Shelton put him back in control. De Minaur double-faulted on a key break point — a small mistake, but costly against a player who wasn’t giving much away.
What’s really exciting is that this win wasn’t just about serving power — though Shelton clearly had plenty. He won extended rallies, stayed patient during baseline exchanges, and showed a maturity that suggests his game is evolving fast. In fact, he said afterwards that many opponents still see him as just a big server, but he's been working on proving that he's more than that. His ability to go into “lockdown mode,” as he described it, made the difference.
This semifinal appearance means Shelton becomes the youngest American to reach this stage of a Masters 1000 event since Andy Roddick two decades ago. His next opponent? Fellow American Taylor Fritz, setting up the first all-US semifinal at this level in 15 years.
As for de Minaur, despite the loss, there’s still plenty of positive momentum. He’ll head to the Cincinnati Open next, seeded sixth, and with a solid hard-court season behind him. He’s also looking strong for the upcoming US Open, where he’s aiming to go even deeper than his two previous quarterfinal finishes.
But in Toronto, it was Shelton’s night. Confident, calm, and commanding — this could be just the beginning for one of America’s most exciting young talents.
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