In a pulsating third-round clash at the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto, fourth-seeded Ben Shelton battled past fellow American Brandon Nakashima in a gripping three-set encounter, securing a 6-7(8), 6-2, 7-6(5) victory to advance to the round of 16. The match, which unfolded under the lights at the Aviva Centre on August 2, 2025, lasted two hours and 36 minutes and showcased Shelton’s explosive serve and relentless aggression against Nakashima’s steady baseline game. The win marked Shelton’s fifth straight victory over Nakashima, maintaining his perfect 5-0 head-to-head record, but not without a fierce fight that captivated fans and underscored the rising star’s resilience.
Shelton, ranked No. 7 and riding a career-high wave, entered the match fresh off a commanding 6-2, 6-3 win over Adrian Mannarino in the second round. His performance against Nakashima was a testament to his growing maturity on the ATP Tour, where he has won nine of his last 11 matches, including a semifinal run at the Citi Open in Washington. “I felt like I executed my game plan and stayed aggressive at the right times,” Shelton said post-match, reflecting on his ability to maintain control despite the match’s intensity. His left-handed serve, peaking at 145.4 mph on match point, proved a decisive weapon, with 19 aces and an 81% first-serve point win rate (56/69) keeping Nakashima on the defensive.
Nakashima, the 25th seed ranked No. 32, brought his own momentum to Toronto, having clinched a straight-sets victory over Ethan Quinn (7-6(6), 6-4) in the second round. The 23-year-old, who reached the quarterfinals in Washington, showcased his consistency, firing 13 aces and committing just one double fault. Despite a 74% first-serve point win rate (49/66), Nakashima struggled to counter Shelton’s power, converting only one of four break points. The first set was a tight affair, with Nakashima edging it 8-6 in a tiebreak after saving a set point. Shelton, however, roared back in the second set, breaking twice to level the match 6-2 with 28 winners across the contest.
The deciding set was a rollercoaster, with Shelton falling behind a break before clawing his way back. The third-set tiebreak saw him face six match points, finally sealing the win with a thunderous serve that Nakashima couldn’t return. “Definitely the match of the tournament so far,” one observer noted, capturing the electric atmosphere as Shelton thrived under pressure. His 90% first-serve point win rate (28/31) in the match mirrored his earlier dominance against Mannarino, where he saved both break points faced. Nakashima’s resilience was evident, but his 19% first-serve return point win rate (13/69) highlighted the challenge of cracking Shelton’s serve.
Shelton’s 2025 season has been a breakout, with deep Grand Slam runs (Australian Open semifinals, Wimbledon quarterfinals) and a tour-leading 64% hard-court win rate (80-44 career record). Nakashima, despite a 13-8 hard-court record this year, has yet to find a winning formula against Shelton, with their most recent clash at Indian Wells ending 7-6(6), 6-1 in Shelton’s favor. The Toronto match, which saw Shelton win 51% of total points (110/215) to Nakashima’s 49% (105/215), was closer than their previous encounters, with the first set in all four prior meetings clearing 11.5 games.
As Shelton advances to face 13th seed Flavio Cobolli in the round of 16, his performance in Toronto signals his readiness for the US Open, where his powerful serve and aggressive forehand could propel him further. Nakashima, despite the loss, remains a rising talent, with notable wins over Holger Rune and Andrey Rublev in 2023 and 2024. The match underscored the depth of American tennis, with both players pushing each other to the limit in a contest that had fans on the edge of their seats, cementing Shelton’s status as a force to be reckoned with on the hard courts.
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