Ben Shelton was in absolute cruise control in his Toronto opener, dispatching of fellow lefty Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 6-3. It was a complete mismatch in many ways, with Shelton’s power-based game making Mannarino look more outdated than usual.
2025 ATP Tour
Masters 1000
National Bank Open (Canadian Open)
Sobeys Stadium, Toronto, Canada (Outdoor Hardcourt)
Selected Round of 32 Matches- 1st August
Ben Shelton (4) vs Brandon Nakashima (25)
Shelton served tremendously, firing 16 aces and winning 90% of his first-serve points. He started his North American hardcourt swing in confident fashion last week, going down to Davidovich Fokina in the Washington semifinals. Shelton began the season in ominous form, reaching a 2nd career Grand Slam semifinal in Melbourne. He would reach the Indian Wells quarters but flattered to deceive in the other early hardcourt events. He showed some growth on clay, reaching a final in Munich before a 4th round run at the French Open. He reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals and appears to once again be peaking as we approach the year’s final slam. Shelton is a true-born showman who will be keen to fire up the Canadian crowd.
Next up for Shelton is compatriot Brandon Nakashima. 24-year-old Nakashima had to dig deep in in his Toronto opener, improving to 24-18 for the season with a 7-6, 6-4 win over compatriot Ethan Quinn. Like Shelton, Nakashima was devastating on serve, firing 13 aces and 0 double faults. He won 80% of his first-serve points, surrendering just two break-point opportunities in the entire match. Nakashima has been bubbling nicely under the radar this year (his year-to-date record took a real dent during a dreadful clay-court swing). He looked really competitive during the early hardcourt season, reaching the Acapulco semifinals before back-to-back round of 16 finishes at the ‘Sunshine Double’. He got his North American hardcourt campaign off to a confident start last week, going down to eventual champ de Minaur in the Washington quarters (his 6th quarterfinal appearance of the season). His serve is constantly improving and his groundstrokes just have a little more pop these days.
The Verdict: Shelton to win in straight sets at – Shelton has dominated Nakashima in the past, leading 4-0 in their head-to-head meetings. In fact, Shelton is yet to drop a set against Nakashima, beating him 7-6, 6-1 in their most recent meeting at this year’s Indian Wells Masters. I’m not in the mood to second-guess history here. Shelton looked fearsome against Mannarino and Nakashima has consistently struggled to read his whippy lefty serve.
Jakub Mensik (12) vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (20)
19-year-old Czech star Jakub Mensik took the tennis world by storm earlier this season, winning his maiden title with a pulsating performance at the Miami Masters (he beat Novak Djokovic in the final). Mensik hasn’t been able to reach those heights again (though he did impress with a maiden Masters clay-court quarterfinal run in Madrid). But this week marks his first appearance on a hardcourt since that herculean performance in Miami. And he picked up where he left off in his Toronto opener, seeing off American Tristan Boyer 6-4, 6-4. He lent on his serve in his first appearance since Wimbledon, notching up 13 aces while winning an awesome 94% of his first-serve points. Mensik has now won six consecutive hardcourt matches and will look to reassert himself on his favourite surface.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina suffered fresh heartbreak at last week’s Washington Open, somehow conspiring to lost to de Minaur with a maiden ATP tour crown beckoning. Davidovich Fokina was exceptional all week, beating the likes of Fritz and Shelton en route to the final. But he once again choked in the crucial moments, surrendering three match-points against the pugnacious Aussie. The match ended with one of the most heartwarming moments in recent tennis history, with de Minaur consoling the clearly devastated Spaniard. Taking a step back, Davidovich Fokina has to take the positives. He is enjoying the best season of his career, finishing runner-up in three events. He never showed any hangover in his Toronto opener, easing past tricky Frenchman Corentin Moutet 6-4, 6-3. The victory over Moutet improved his 2025 record to 33-18. Davidovich Fokina is playing the most consistent tennis of his career and a title is surely just around the corner.
The Verdict: Mensik to win in straight sets at – Davidovich Fokina leads the head-to-head 3-1, winning their last three encounters. He pulled off a miracle at this year’s Aussie Open, coming back from two sets down to defeat the big-serving Czech. He then eased past Mensik in Eastbourne. I think that Mensik is due a big week. His serve and forehand combination is a thing of deadly beauty and Davidovich Fokina may be feeling some remnants of disappointment following that Washington collapse.
