NBO Montreal Tale of the Tape: Shelton vs.…

We’re down to the championship matches at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers.

In the first all-American men’s singles final at the NBO since Andre Agassi beat Pete Sampras in 1995, Ben Shelton meets Brandon Nakashima.

Shelton, a lefty, brings firepower, fist pumps and gets the crowd involved, while right-hander Nakashima is quieter on court.

Backing up Toronto last year would give Shelton a seventh career title and make him the first man to go back-to-back in Canada since Rafael Nadal in 2018 and 2019. Nakashima tries for title No. 2 after winning in his hometown of San Diego in 2022.

Time for the deeper dive.

Head-to-head

If he wants to get his hands on the trophy, Nakashima, ranked 31st, has to overcome a lopsided record against Shelton.

He trails 5-0, with only a single set won.

But inspecting things more closely, you’ll find that Nakashima has had numerous chances.

The first eight sets they played, it went to either 7-5 or 7-6. Shelton won them all.

That solitary set won by Nakashima came at the NBO last year in the third round, when he pushed Shelton to a final set tiebreak. Nakashima led by a break early in the third but was never ahead in the deciding breaker.

Tournament so far

Shelton is on to something in Montreal. For the first time in his ATP career, he’s won five consecutive matches in straight sets at the same event. The last time it happened at any pro tournament was in Chicago at a Challenger in 2022.

Call it the opposite of last year, when Shelton won three third-set tiebreaks, including in the final against Karen Khachanov.

“My path to the final was different last year, winning some 7-6 in the thirds, and I think that in a way it's good to be able to feel that, your back against the wall, to be battle tested going into the finals,” said Shelton.

“On the other hand, you're playing a lot of matches, and the quicker that you can get off the court, the better shape that you're in physically going into that final. So, I think that there's a give and take, for sure.”

Shelton hung tough early in the semifinals against a foe who had his number, Learner Tien, after producing one of the finest performances of his career against Jakub Mensik in the quarterfinals.

Nakashima halted the momentum of 19-year-old Spanish sensation Rafael Jodar in the semifinals, controlling proceedings before a nervy finish.

He was pushed hard in the second and third rounds by Frenchmen, Titouan Droguet and Arthur Rinderknech, winning the third set 7-5.

“Going into the tournament I knew I was playing at a really high level, so I knew that I could go on a deep run here,” said Nakashima, a semifinalist in Washington in early August. “Obviously wasn't thinking about the final or anything, but yeah, so super happy with all of it.”

Nakashima saved all 10 break points faced in his last two matches. Shelton hasn’t been broken in his last two matches, too, not facing a break point versus Mensik and saving all four against Tien.

Record in finals

When it comes to ATP Tour finals, Nakashima holds a 2-2 record.

He bagged his maiden title in San Diego against a fellow Californian, Marcos Giron, which he said Wednesday remains the biggest win of his career.

“Obviously (Montreal) is definitely a top three moment for me in my career, for sure,” said Nakashima.

Daniil Medvedev beat Nakashima in his last final in Brisbane in January, a tournament with habitually stacked playing fields.

Shelton, meanwhile, holds an impressive 6-2 record in ATP finals, winning his last four.

Quotable

Shelton: “Playing for titles is where I want to be at, no matter where it is, 250, 500, Masters, obviously Grand Slams as well is the ultimate goal. But for me to be here one year later, back up, and have the opportunity to back up what I did last year is super special, and obviously going to leave it all out there on the court.”

Nakashima (who suffered a significant knee injury in 2023): “I'm really looking forward to it. I'm super happy. Everything that I've got to get to this moment, all the hard work and everything, just so happy that it's all paying off.”