At just 22, Ben Shelton is charging through the ATP ranks with fire in his belly and titles already to his name. Ranked inside the top ten, he’s far from satisfied. “I know that I’m not where I want to be. That’s kind of what I’m focusing on,” he admitted after his Wimbledon quarterfinal exit. Refusing to back down, he stormed into Washington’s semis, then punched his ticket to the Canadian Open semifinals, where he now locks horns with Taylor Fritz, who just reached the semis, beating Andrey Rublev. And as the drought-breaking showdown between two top Americans brews, Shelton makes no secret of his hunger for the big stage.

Ben Shelton blasted his way into the Nitto ATP Finals cut with a thundering performance in Toronto, snapping Alex de Minaur’s seven-match winning streak under the night lights. Using his explosive serve and that wickedly high-kicking forehand, the American lefty dismantled the Aussie 6-3, 6-4 in a commanding display that stood in stark contrast to his nail-biting third-set tie-break wins over Brandon Nakashima and Flavio Cobolli earlier in the week.

With this straight-sets triumph, Shelton didn’t just punch his ticket to his first Masters semi-final; he cracked a 32-year drought for American men at the Canadian Open. The fire is lit, the storm is here, and Shelton’s rise just scorched through history.

Right after his thunderous win over Alex de Minaur, a wave of pride swept across American tennis fans. The official X page for OptaAce lit up with a stat that hit home: “Two Americans (Ben Shelton-Taylor Fritz) will meet in an ATP Masters 1000 SF for the first time since Cincinnati in 2010 (Mardy Fish-Andy Roddick), and at the Canadian Open since 1993 (Todd Martin-Richey Reneberg). Pair.” A historic moment, now reborn in the hands of a new generation.

When asked about the showdown with de Minaur, Shelton didn’t hold back. “I am really happy with that performance for sure. I think it showed a lot of mental toughness.” The Aussie had been a nightmare on practice courts, breaking Shelton “a billion times,” but on the big stage, the American lefty stood tall and unmoved.

“I found I was solid from start to finish by the way that I played,” he added. “He’s a really tough match-up group me, so the point the way I did, how solid I was, how confident I was to serve out the sets gives me a lot of confidence and I am really excited about this chance of the semi-final.” And now, he’s ready for the next storm.

Ben Shelton blasted 13 aces in a crisp 91-minute demolition of 2023 finalist Alex de Minaur, booking his ticket to a fiery all-American semi-final showdown with second seed Taylor Fritz. Their last meeting came at Indian Wells in 2023, where Fritz claimed victory, but this time, Shelton’s eyes are lit with vengeance and purpose. The win also launched him two spots up to No. 7 in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, inching him closer to his dream debut at the season-ending spectacle in Italy this November.

At just 22, Shelton has stormed into the history books, becoming the youngest American to reach a Masters 1000 semi-final since Andy Roddick did it in Indian Wells two decades ago. If he goes all the way in Toronto, Shelton will climb from World No. 7 to No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings, leapfrogging none other than Novak Djokovic.

But as Shelton locks in for a high-voltage semi-final battle, controversy follows. Coco Gauff’s ex-coach has broken his silence, weighing in on Shelton’s Canadian Open drama, adding a fiery twist to an already explosive storyline.

Ben Shelton blasted 13 aces in a crisp 91-minute demolition of 2023 finalist Alex de Minaur, booking his ticket to a fiery all-American semi-final showdown with second seed Taylor Fritz. Their last meeting came at Indian Wells in 2023, where Fritz claimed victory, but this time, Shelton’s eyes are lit with vengeance and purpose. The win also launched him two spots up to No. 7 in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, inching him closer to his dream debut at the season-ending spectacle in Italy this November.

At just 22, Shelton has stormed into the history books, becoming the youngest American to reach a Masters 1000 semi-final since Andy Roddick did it in Indian Wells two decades ago. If he goes all the way in Toronto, Shelton will climb from World No. 7 to No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings, leapfrogging none other than Novak Djokovic.

But as Shelton locks in for a high-voltage semi-final battle, controversy follows. Coco Gauff’s ex-coach has broken his silence, weighing in on Shelton’s Canadian Open drama, adding a fiery twist to an already explosive storyline.

Brad Gilbert speaks on the Shelton-Cobolli controversy

Remember that rollercoaster clash between Ben Shelton and Flavio Cobolli? Under the lights on Sunday night, Shelton wasn’t just chasing a win, he was hunting milestones. Victory would’ve marked his 100th tour-level win and a step closer to his dream of reaching a Canadian Open final, a stage he just missed last year after falling to Zverev in the quarters.

The match began with Shelton asserting control, claiming the first set 6-4. But Cobolli wasn’t going down quietly; he hit back with a 6-4 of his own. In the deciding set, it was the Italian who grabbed an early break to lead 4-2. But like a prizefighter smelling blood, Shelton dug deep, clawing his way back to force a tiebreak. And when it mattered most, the American exploded, ripping through the breaker 7-1 to clinch a hard-fought win.

But then, the spotlight shifted. Cameras zoomed in as the two players met at the net, sharing what looked like a charged exchange. As they walked toward the umpire’s chair, they reportedly continued the conversation for another 60 seconds. 

“You deserved this match but it’s not always you,” Cobolli was heard saying. When asked about it later, Shelton clarified, “Yeah, we talked about it. He said (the gesture) wasn’t towards me. We’re good. We talked about it in the locker room, so I’m not going to answer any more questions about that. There’s no story, we’re good, that’s it, so, thanks.”

But fans aren’t done talking. Was it just heat-of-the-moment tension or a deeper dig from Cobolli? That’s when Brad Gilbert, former coach to Coco Gauff, stepped in. Taking to X, he offered his take: “I’ve watched a few videos online doesn’t look like that much between Gimme Shelton and Cobolli obviously very tight match in the heat of the moment.” The tennis legend downplayed the buzz, chalking it up to classic on-court emotions.

Now with Taylor Fritz standing in his path, Shelton’s eyes are locked on greatness. It’s an all-American semi-final showdown, and the only question now is, who are you riding with? The power-serving prodigy or the experienced No. 2 seed?