NEWSLETTER | SHELTON WINS MAIDEN TITLE IN TOKYO

Ben Shelton is into the top 15 after winning his first title in Tokyo

By Stephen Higgins | 23rd October 2023

Ben Shelton
Tokyo champion Ben Shelton is the real deal | Shutterstock/lev radin

Though there are a few weeks left, Ben Shelton may just have capped off an incredible season with his first ATP title.

The 21-year-old beat Aslan Karatsev 7-5 6-1 in the Tokyo final after a tough week where he was taken to three sets by Taro Daniel, Jordan Thompson and Marcos Giron.

The American is now the world no.15, quite a journey from the start of the 2023 season.

The US singles college champion in 2022, Shelton won three consecutive Challenger events at the end of last season to copper fasten his place at the Australian Open.

Shelton, who is coached by his father Bryan (former world no.55), had never even been outside the United States before Australia. He certainly made the most of the trip as the powerful lefty broke out on the world stage with a surprising run to the quarters.

Extraordinary results dried up for Shelton during the spring and summer before picking up again in North America. After only a couple of wins at Toronto and Cincinnati, Shelton outdid his Melbourne showing at Flushing Meadows.

The Gainesville, Florida man reeled off wins over Dominic Thiem (ret.), Aslan Karatsev, Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe before Novak Djokovic brought him back to earth on Arthur Ashe.

Thankfully for Team Shelton, the confidence of that US Open run has lingered and 21-year-old enjoyed an excellent display at Shanghai where he made the last eight and recorded a win over world no.4 Jannik Sinner.

Now into the top 20 and with a highly dangerous combination of power, athleticism, determination and left handedness, Shelton can do big things in 2024.

NANCHANG | WTA 250

After over three-and-a-half hours, Katerina Siniakova won an all-Czech clash with Marie Bouzkova 1-6 7-6 (5) 7-6 (4). It’s the fifth career singles title for Siniakova who saved three championship points in the final.

The winner returns to the top 50 while Bouzkova actually drops a few places after earning fewer points than 12 months ago in Guadalajara.

STOCKHOLM | ATP 250

37-year-old Gael Monfils rolled back the years in Sweden as he recovered from a set down to take the final over qualifier Pavel Kotov 4-6 7-6 (6) 6-3.

It was a good effort from the Frenchman as world no.109 Kotov had a stormer of a week with victories over Christopher Eubanks, Lorenzo Sonego, Tallon Griekspoor and Miomir Kecmanovic. Both Monfils and Kotov move into the world’s top 90.

MONASTIR | WTA 250

Former world no.12 Elise Mertens cruised to the title in Tunisia as she coughed up very few games over the week. The Belgian defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-3 6-0 in the final to simultaneously defend her crown and secure an eighth WTA singles title. Both Mertens and Paolini sneak inside the top 30 as a result.

ANTWERP | ATP 250

Alexander Bublik’s enormous serve proved crucial here as he got the better of rising start Arthur Fils 6-4 6-4. The Kazakh struck 11 aces and won 97% of first serve points en route to his third ATP title. The win puts Bublik back inside the top 30 while Fils remains at his career high of no.38.

CLUJ-NAPOCA | WTA 250

World no.105 Tamara Korpatsch earned her first WTA title with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse. The German made the most of a low key event where the top seed, Sorana Cirstea, crashed out in round one. Korpatsch jumps into the top 100 as a result while Ruse moves into the top 130.