There’s hardly a moment to breathe on the North American hard-court swing, and Ben Shelton is living proof. Just two days after capturing the biggest title of his young career at the Canadian Open in Toronto, Shelton was back in action at the Cincinnati Masters, showing the sort of grit and hunger that’s fast making him a household name in tennis circles. If you blinked, you might’ve missed his whirlwind week—one that’s already rewriting the script for American men’s tennis.
Shelton’s maiden Masters 1000 triumph in Toronto was no fluke. The 22-year-old bulldozed his way through a gauntlet of top-tier opponents, dispatching Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Flavio Cobolli, and Karen Khachanov. Each match tested his resolve, but it was the final victory over Khachanov that truly stamped his arrival on the sport’s biggest stage. The win didn’t just hand him a trophy; it propelled him to a career-high world No. 6 ranking as of August 11, 2025, and set expectations sky-high for the rest of the season.
But there’s no rest for the ambitious. While other Canadian Open finalists chose to skip Cincinnati, Shelton rolled into Ohio with barely two days to recover. “It’s definitely not easy to play a couple of days after winning a title,” Shelton admitted in his post-match interview, addressing the unique challenge of his quick turnaround. Yet, he showed no signs of fatigue in his first-round match against Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli. Shelton was leading 6-3, 3-1 after just 64 minutes when Carabelli, hampered by a knee injury, was forced to retire despite a valiant attempt to play on after a medical timeout. Shelton’s reaction was all class: “I feel for Camilo and it’s obviously not the way that you want to go through. I hope that he has a quick recovery.”
For Shelton, Cincinnati is more than just another stop on the tour. “I’m just excited for the opportunity to play here in Cincinnati. This is the tournament where I had a big breakthrough and one that I never want to miss,” he told the crowd, his enthusiasm undimmed by the circumstances of his win. The city holds special meaning for the American, marking a pivotal moment in his ascent up the ATP ranks.
The Cincinnati Open’s early rounds weren’t short on drama elsewhere, either. Reilly Opelka, the towering 6’11” American, delivered the upset of the tournament so far, ousting sixth seed Alex de Minaur 7-6(6), 6-4 in just under 100 minutes. Opelka’s 38 winners, including 14 aces, left de Minaur scrambling for answers as the big server powered his way into the next round. Opelka’s resurgence on hard courts has him set to rise nine spots in the rankings, a testament to his renewed confidence and fitness after a challenging spell with injuries.
Meanwhile, Adam Walton of Australia stunned 2019 Cincinnati champion Daniil Medvedev, coming from a set down to win 6-7(0), 6-4, 6-1. Walton, ranked 85th in the world and enjoying the best season of his career, now boasts an 11-13 win-loss record for the year—a significant improvement over previous campaigns.
The surprises didn’t end there. British hope Cameron Norrie fell to Roberto Bautista Agut, the 37-year-old Spanish veteran, who needed seven match points to close out a 6-4, 6-3 win in the Ohio heat. Bautista Agut, ranked 53rd, now awaits Shelton in a tantalizing second-round clash—one that’s sure to test the American’s stamina and focus after his recent heroics.
Elsewhere, familiar names kept their campaigns on track. Alexander Zverev, the 2021 Cincinnati champion and current third seed, eased past American Nishesh Basavareddy 6-3, 6-3, firing 12 aces and never facing a break point. Zverev will next face Brandon Nakashima, who edged out Alexander Blockx in a three-set battle. “I requested [a night match], coming from Toronto, where it’s a lot colder. I need some days getting used to the heat and conditions,” Zverev explained. “I’m happy with the win and happy with how I played.”
Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish superstar and second seed, overcame a rollercoaster match against Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur, eventually prevailing 6-1, 2-6, 6-3. Alcaraz started strong but faltered in the second set as Dzumhur upped the aggression, only to regroup in the decider. “It was just a rollercoaster,” Alcaraz admitted. “Lots of good feelings, bad feelings, back to the good ones. All I can say is I am happy to get the win at the end and just have another chance to be better. I will try tomorrow to have my confidence back because today it was a little bit tricky. Damir plays really smart tennis, which I have to be focused and ready for that. I have a rest day tomorrow, to give myself the confidence back and hopefully be better in the next round.” Alcaraz will next face Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic, who took out Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets.
On the women’s side, second seed Coco Gauff shrugged off a shaky start on serve—eight double faults in the first set—to defeat Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-2. Gauff converted all five break points and finished with a flurry, winning 20 of her last 23 points on serve. “I had a shaky start with the serve, but I was able to push through and figure that out,” Gauff said. She’ll meet Dayana Yastremska in the next round. Jessica Pegula, another American favorite, moved through with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Kimberly Birrell.
Back to Shelton—what’s next? Despite his meteoric rise and a semifinal appearance at the US Open last year, there are still hurdles ahead. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, both of whom have blocked Shelton’s path at majors, remain the benchmarks he must surpass to claim Grand Slam glory. Shelton himself recognizes this, noting that breaking through against one of these titans could open the door to even greater achievements.
For now, though, the Cincinnati Open is buzzing with possibility. Shelton’s rapid turnaround and Opelka’s statement win have electrified the American contingent. With marquee names advancing and a few upsets already in the books, the tournament is shaping up to be a memorable prelude to the US Open. Stay tuned—the action is far from over, and if the opening days are any indication, the surprises are just getting started.
