As Ben Shelton kicks off his title defense at the ATP Montreal Masters, he aims to make the most of his opportunities on the court. His primary focus is to fine-tune his game in preparation for the upcoming US Open.
Event Context
As the final major of the season approaches on August 31 in New York, American player Ben Shelton has mapped out a comprehensive preparation schedule. Following his participation in Washington last week, he is set to compete in Montreal and Cincinnati in the coming days.
‘Competing in three tournaments is ideal for me. I’m eager to gain as much match experience as possible,’ said Shelton on a rainy Monday, which saw delays in the match schedule due to weather interruptions.
‘I thrive on playing more matches, as long as my body can handle it,’ he continued. ‘This three-tournament stretch is an excellent way to prepare before a week off leading into the US Open. I’m really going for it.’
Weather conditions are significantly affecting the ongoing extended 12-day Masters tournament, which has seen the notable absences of world number one Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
Top-seeded Alexander Zverev, the reigning Roland Garros champion and Wimbledon finalist, competes against Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in this event.
Zverev remarked, ‘I think the format of these two-week tournaments lacks sustainability, but I’m not sure there’s a better approach. Jannik and Novak know their own limits. Perhaps I would consider their choices differently if I had won Wimbledon as they have.’
He added, ‘It’s challenging to judge their decisions as they focus on maintaining peak performance and health through the season. However, this time of year is among my favorites, and I don’t want to miss out on any of these competitions.’
Player Focus
The American player, whose father is a former ATP professional and currently his coach, has expressed that he doesn’t stress about the 1,000 ranking points he needs to defend in Canada following his victory in 2025.
“I’ve never been someone who gets too caught up in defending points. It’s just not in my nature,” he shared. “Focusing constantly on defending or worrying about when you earned points can lead to a mental block.
“That’s why I prefer to concentrate on my overall performance this year and my objectives for 2026 and beyond.
“My main aim is to seize the opportunity to play at a high level as I head into the US Open. I’m excited to hit the court again.”
Match Outlook
Shelton, currently ranked 10th in the ATP rankings and fresh off a quarterfinal appearance in Washington last week, remains unfazed by the lengthy format of the event. Despite ongoing criticism within the sport, he believes the event may be due for adjustments in the future. Shelton expressed skepticism about the practicality of the current format and understands why some top players chose to skip Montreal.
