All-American Final
Defending Champion Ben Shelton Faces Brandon Nakashima in All-American Montreal Final
Defending champion Ben Shelton punched his ticket to the National Bank Open final in Montreal on Wednesday night, beating fellow American Learner Tien 6-2, 6-3. He will face Brandon Nakashima, setting up a rare all-American final at the ATP Masters 1000 event, according to SFGATE.
Nakashima, the 28th seed, reached the final by beating Spain's Rafael Jodar 7-6 (3), 6-4 in the first semifinal, as reported by Head Topics.
Shelton Rolls Past Tien to Defend Montreal Title
Shelton, seeded fifth in the draw, was dominant against Tien. He won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, and was never seriously threatened. Shelton is chasing his second title at the National Bank Open. He won the event last year and is in strong form heading into Saturday's final, according to Oskaloosa.
This has been a busy and successful 2025 season for Shelton. He has already claimed three titles — in Dallas, Munich, and Stuttgart. That gives him six career tour titles in total, per Twin Cities Business Radio.
Nakashima Earns Final Berth With Gritty Jodar Win
Nakashima had to work hard in his semifinal against Jodar. The first set went to a tiebreak, which Nakashima won 7-3. He then closed out the match 6-4 in the second set. It was a composed and confident performance from the American, according to Head Topics.
Nakashima has been building toward a moment like this. He won his only tour title back in 2022 in San Diego. A win in Montreal would be his biggest career victory and first Masters 1000 title, per SFGATE.
All-American Final Is a Rare Feat on Tour
An all-American final at a Masters 1000 event is uncommon. The ATP Masters 1000 series features the biggest tournaments outside the Grand Slams. Having two Americans meet in the final shows how much U.S. men's tennis has grown in recent years, according to Twin Cities Business Radio.
Both players are in their mid-20s and represent the next generation of American tennis. Shelton is the favorite as the defending champion. But Nakashima has proven this week he can beat anyone. The final is set to be a competitive and entertaining matchup between two players who know each other well.
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