In a thrilling final at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships, Ben Shelton, an emerging American tennis sensation, clinched his maiden ATP Tour title. Shelton showcased remarkable resilience, overcoming a one-set and 2-5 deficit to secure victory against Aslan Karatsev, with a final score of 7-5, 6-1.

After an intense semi-final match where he rallied to defeat Marcos Giron, Shelton harnessed that momentum in the final showdown in Tokyo. His strategy revolved around taking the ball early on return, putting pressure on Karatsev. After 84 minutes of gripping tennis, Shelton emerged as the victor. Witness the best tennis game ever with attractive betting odds from Nextbet.

Reflecting on his achievement, Shelton expressed his delight, stating, “That meant a lot to me and my team. We have been working really hard since the beginning to build my game and win titles on the ATP Tour.” He emphasized the importance of consistently maintaining a high level of play throughout the week, similar to great champions.

Shelton’s triumph in Tokyo marked his first ATP Tour title, making him the sixth first-time tour-level winner of the season. Notably, he is the first player since Lorenzo Musetti in 2022 to secure their maiden ATP Tour title at a 500-level event. This remarkable victory will propel Shelton to a career-high ranking of No. 15 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, a significant ascent from his starting position at No. 96 at the beginning of the season.

Eager to continue his impressive journey, Shelton looks ahead to the remainder of the year with enthusiasm. “I am really looking forward to this tail-end stretch of the year,” he declared, highlighting his fresh condition due to his limited match count earlier in the season.

In the final match against Karatsev, Shelton demonstrated a fearless approach, unleashing 18 winners and using his lefty serve to unsettle his opponent. His proficiency in winning 80 percent of points behind his first serve was a key factor in his victory. Impressively, Shelton now boasts a 2-0 record against Karatsev in their head-to-head matchups.

This victory adds to Shelton’s already notable achievements this season, which include advancing to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and the semi-finals of the US Open, where he became the youngest American man to reach the last four since Michael Chang in 1992. Shelton’s exceptional performance over the past 16 matches, with a 14-2 record, underscores his rising status in the world of tennis.

On the other side of the net, Karatsev, who was aiming for his fourth tour-level title and his first since defeating Andy Murray in Sydney in 2022, struggled to find consistency from the baseline, committing 20 unforced errors as the match progressed. This win by Shelton also continues the streak of American success in Tokyo, following Taylor Fritz’s victory in the tournament in 2022. Get the latest updates from the world of tennis only on Nextbet Sports.