For Ben Shelton, the most exciting moment of his Canadian Open victory was not the final point he won, but rather the mid-match crowd eruption that occurred for someone else. In a truly bizarre and unforgettable scene, Shelton and his opponent Karen Khachanov were left utterly confused when the Toronto crowd suddenly erupted in cheers during their final, only to learn the celebration was for Victoria Mboko’s women’s final victory hundreds of miles away in Montreal.
The Baffling Mid-Match Celebration 🤷♂️
During the second set of a tightly contested match, as Shelton was preparing to receive a serve, the entire stadium in Toronto’s Sobeys Stadium erupted in a deafening cheer. The noise was so unexpected and overwhelming that both players paused, completely bewildered. Shelton, in particular, looked visibly confused, approaching the umpire to ask what was going on. The answer he received, a simple and profound “I guess the Canadian player has won in Montreal,” revealed the reason for the chaos: a massive screen in the stadium had just broadcast Victoria Mboko’s victory over Naomi Osaka.
This spontaneous outburst of national pride for Mboko, an 18-year-old Canadian who had just won her first WTA title, was an unprecedented moment in professional tennis. The fact that the crowd in Toronto, in the middle of a men’s Masters 1000 final, would celebrate a victory from a different city, underscored the magnitude of Mboko’s achievement. For Shelton, the experience was more thrilling than the title he went on to win. He later took to social media to congratulate Mboko, admitting he had “no idea what was going on at the time” but that “Toronto went nuts for you.”
A Perfect Storm of Success
Shelton’s victory against Khachanov was a hard-fought battle, ending with a final score of 6-7(0), 6-4, 7-6. The win marks a significant milestone in the 22-year-old American’s career, as it is his first ATP Masters 1000 title. His performance was characterized by clutch serves, powerful forehands, and an unwavering resilience that saw him through a number of tight matches throughout the tournament. Shelton described his run as a “perfect storm,” a combination of skill, luck, and mental toughness.
He was quick to credit his team, particularly his father and coach, Bryan Shelton, for his success. “I’m just happy to see you back knocking on the door for the top 10,” he told Khachanov in his post-match speech, a sentiment that speaks to his sportsmanship and maturity. This victory also propels Shelton to a career-high ranking, cementing his place as one of the rising stars of American tennis.
Despite the joy of his own triumph, the shared moment with the Canadian crowd and their celebration of Mboko’s success is what truly stands out. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated sportsmanship and national pride that transcended the boundaries of a single match, reminding everyone of the human element that makes sports so compelling.
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