Shelton beats Nakashima 6-3 7-6 for Montreal title

Ben Shelton claimed the Montreal final in straight sets, taking the opener 6-3 before edging a tense second set 7-6 against fellow American Brandon Nakashima. The serve told the story: Shelton landed 68.5% of his first deliveries and won 86.5% of those points, striking seven aces without a single double fault. The difference lay behind the first ball, where Shelton won 76.5% of his second-serve points to Nakashima's 50.0%, a gap that left the runner-up under constant pressure despite his eight aces and 80.0% haul on first serve. It was an all-American final settled by margins, and a hard-court title for Shelton.