Ben Shelton is looking to extend his ATP Masters 1000 streak just three days after winning his second Canadian Open title in a row. The American has arrived at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, ahead of his Cincinnati Open campaign, which begins Sunday, August 16.
Shelton, who enjoyed his breakthrough at the tournament four years ago and turned professional soon after, has high hopes this time around.
Ben Shelton Opens Up on Canadian Open to Cincinnati Turnaround
Shelton won his career’s second Masters 1000 title in Montréal 12 months after winning his maiden trophy at the level in Toronto. His campaign this year was far smoother, as he did not drop a set, unlike in Toronto, where he battled through three tight three-setters, including the final against Karen Khachanov.
“For me mentally it’s huge. I don’t think it’s an easy feat. I think defending any title is tough, but especially doing it in a different city, a city that you haven’t won a title before. I mean, it’s a completely different tournament, although it’s the same,” Shelton said during his press conference at the Cincinnati Open.
When asked about the quick turnaround from Montréal to Cincinnati, Shelton said, “Déjà vu. I did the same last year. My body was a lot more fried last year, and I’m in a good place physically.”
The two cities present noticeably different climatic conditions, with Cincinnati’s heat and humidity proving challenging even for the top players. On Saturday, Novak Djokovic visibly struggled during his three-set defeat to Thiago Agustín Tirante. In last year’s final, meanwhile, a physically compromised Jannik Sinner retired after just 23 minutes against Carlos Alcaraz.
Ben Shelton noted that he wanted to waste no time acclimatizing to the conditions, with high hopes heading into the US Open.
“It’s a lot more hot and humid here compared to what it was in D.C. and in Montréal. So to take a day off and not feel the conditions felt like a waste of time. I want to be here and I feel pretty good physically. I feel even better today. I hit earlier this morning, and I’m just excited to get started.”
The 23-year-old’s best results at the Cincinnati Open so far came in 2024 and 2025, when he reached the quarterfinals. He would look to go deeper this time after establishing himself as only the second Masters 1000 champion this year, following Jannik Sinner’s five-title haul in the first half of the season.
Seeded eighth, Shelton begins his campaign against qualifier Jaime Faria in the second round.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.