Ben Shelton wins first ATP title of career in Tokyo, will break into Top 15 on ATP rankings

After some great escapes leading up to the final, including battling back from a set and a double break down in the semifinals, Ben Shelton saved his best for last in Tokyo on Sunday, defeating former Top 15 player Aslan Karatsev, 7-5, 6-1, to capture the first ATP title of his career.

The 21-year-old American, who's currently ranked No. 19, will now break into the Top 15 himself. He's projected to rise to No. 15 tomorrow.

“It did mean a lot, to me and my team,” Shelton said afterwards. “You know, we’ve been working really hard since the beginning to build my game into something that could hopefully win titles on the ATP tour.

“This is something I’ve been pushing for. I’ve made some deep runs lately, but you see the great champions, they finish weeks off—they win titles, they don’t just get to the semifinals or the finals, but they’re able to maintain their level all the way throughout the week.

"And I’m not saying I’m anywhere near there yet, but to be able to do it one week, be consistent for five matches in a row, to be able to win a title and to do it here in Tokyo is really special for me.”

Having rallied from a set down to win his first two matches of the week against Japan’s Taro Daniel, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2), and Australia’s Jordan Thompson, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3, Shelton was in even deeper trouble against fellow American Marcos Giron in the semifinals, ralling from a set and two breaks down at 7-6 (2), 5-2—and even coming within two points of going out four separate times—before clawing back to prevail in a two-hour-and-50-minute nail-biter, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Despite all of those three-setters, Shelton came into the final looking fresh, grabbing the first break of the match at 5-all with a huge forehand return that drew the error from Karatsev, and then—after serving out the 51-minute first set in the next game—sneaking out another break for 2-1 in the second set with a forehand winner.

He then broke again for 4-1, and one more time for the match.

In the end, it was a runaway victory—from his 4-5 service game he won nine of the last 10 games of the match to close it out.

Shelton finished with 18 winners—including 12 off his forehand—to 12 unforced errors, while Karatsev had nine winners to 20 unforced errors.

With Ben’s father and coach Bryan Shelton winning two ATP titles in his career—both on the grass courts of Newport, in 1991 and 1992—the Sheltons are just the fourth father-son duo to both win tour-level titles in the Open Era, along with the Dents (Phil and Taylor), the Krishnans (Ramanathan and Ramesh) and the Kordas (Petr and Sebastian).