Ben Shelton won the 2026 Canadian Open without dropping a set.
The American defeated Jenson Brooksby, Zizou Bergs, Joao Fonseca, Jakub Mensik, Learner Tien, and Brandon Nakashima in straight sets to defend his title.
Shelton looked dominant in Montreal, doubling his Masters 1000 tally in style.
Which player will win this year’s Cincinnati Open men’s singles title?
Vote now!
Former world number one Jim Courier was impressed by Shelton, highlighting one statistic in particular.
Jim Courier says Ben Shelton’s unforced error-to-winner count in Canada was ‘wild’
During the latest episode of ‘Drop Shot‘, Courier delivered his verdict on Shelton’s Canadian Open title defence.
“I think without doubt it was the best tennis of his career,” he said.
“Those last three matches that he played, the unforced errors compared to the winners were wild.
“He was just munching players.
QF [WIN] vs Jakub Mensik
- 18 winners
- 3 unforced errors
SF [WIN] vs Learner Tien
- 22 winners
- 23 unforced errors
F [WIN] vs Brandon Nakashima
- 22 winners
- 12 unforced errors
“It was kind of awesome to see him put it all together.
“We know he works hard, and we have always known he is a great competitor.”
Shelton made 62 winners to 38 unforced errors across his final three matches in Montreal.
The 23-year-old was clinical when it mattered most, joining an illustrious group of players who have won multiple Canadian Open titles.
Players who have won multiple Canadian Open titles (Open Era)
| Rank | Player | Titles | Years won |
| 1 | Ivan Lendl | 6 | 1980, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989 |
| 2 | Rafael Nadal | 5 | 2005, 2008, 2013, 2018, 2019, |
| 3 | Novak Djokovic | 4 | 2007, 2011, 2012, 2016 |
| T-4 | Andy Murray | 3 | 2009, 2010, 2015 |
| T-4 | Andre Agassi | 3 | 1992, 1994, 1995 |
| T-6 | Ben Shelton | 2 | 2025, 2026 |
| T-6 | Roger Federer | 2 | 2004, 2006 |
| T-6 | John McEnroe | 2 | 1984, 1985 |
| T-6 | Guillermo Vilas | 2 | 1974, 1976 |
Courier believes Shelton is maturing as a player, having now seen him win two Masters 1000 titles.
“You never have to doubt that he is going to lay it all on the line out there, but the fact he was able to bring it all together and really punctuate it with that forehand down the line on match point, that was the perfect exclamation point for what he’s been doing,” he said.
“We know the serve is amazing, but to be able to work a point and get the right shot and sting it, when he was maybe a bit too trigger-happy a few times earlier in his career, but you really could see the maturity coming in.”
The question is, what’s next for Shelton?
Jim Courier predicts what will happen to Ben Shelton now he’s won the Canadian Open
Courier continued, previewing the remainder of Shelton’s 2026 season.
“I think him being sixth in the rankings right now positions him well to be protected early in the draws and get deeper in there and challenge himself against the best of the best,” he said.
Official ATP Rankings
| Rank | Name | Career-high | Country | Points |
| 1 | Jannik Sinner | 1st | Italy | 13,450 |
| 2 | Carlos Alcaraz | 1st | Spain | 8,160 |
| 3 | Alexander Zverev | 2nd | Germany | 8,090 |
| 4 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | 4th | Canada | 4,740 |
| 5 | Novak Djokovic | 1st | Serbia | 3,760 |
| 6 | Ben Shelton | 5th | USA | 3,670 |
| 7 | Daniil Medvedev | 1st | Russia | 3,580 |
| 8 | Alex de Minaur | 5th | Australia | 3,560 |
| 9 | Taylor Fritz | 4th | USA | 3,375 |
| 10 | Flavio Cobolli | 9th | Italy | 3,330 |
“We are in this no-man’s land right now. Novak [Djokovic] is coming to Cincinnati; Jannik [Sinner] and Carlos [Alcaraz] are not, so the avenue of opportunity is still there for these guys.
“Of course, [Alexander] Zverev is going to start playing better, but Shelton is going to start looking at these draws and say I hope I don’t see Novak, but everyone else, I think he is going to give himself a good chance against right now.
“He has got to continue to take advantage of those and build his belief in himself while at the same time building an aura about him that others will fear.”
12 months ago, Shelton reached the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals after winning in Canada.
He’ll want to improve upon his run to the quarters in 2026, especially with the top two players in men’s tennis, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, skipping the event.
Competing as the eighth seed, Shelton has received a bye into the second round, where he will play Portugal’s Jaime Faria or his countryman Jenson Brooksby.
