Andy Roddick has noticed two major improvements Ben Shelton has made after he wins in Canada

Ben Shelton won the biggest title of his professional career last time around as he continues his remarkable rise on the ATP Tour.

The young American secured his first two top-ten wins of 2025 in Toronto last week, as Shelton defeated Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz en route to the final.

There, Shelton battled to a three-set win over Karen Khachanov, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, picking up his first career Masters 1000 title.

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With the Canadian Open title in the bag, Shelton rose to a career-high ranking of sixth in the world.

As the 22-year-old continues to impress, former world number one Andy Roddick has highlighted the two areas of his game that have improved the most.

Andy Roddick says Ben Shelton’s backhand and chip have improved

During the latest episode of ‘Quick Served’, Roddick commented on the improvements Shelton has made to his game.

“I like to see progress in someone’s game. I like to see people who are [ranked] 12 and 13 in the world and aren’t content,” he said.

“Two things that Ben Shelton is doing so much better than even other times where he has been to semifinals in Slams, like a couple of years ago when he lost to Novak [Djokovic]…

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“His ability to drive the backhand, middle, and cross. He is not taking random cuts down the line with it, and when he does, it’s a finishing shot. But comfort in really taking big swings through the middle, through cross.

“The thing that is completely changing the pattern of his rallies is that chip that he did not have two years ago. It looked like he was chopping wood two years ago.

“Now he can play it cross, the biggest one is that he is hitting that one inside out and it’s getting a little check outside, and hitting that chip down the line with a little inside out spin, brings the traffic back to his forehand.

“He has developed that shot, and you say the chip is a change-up, no, it’s more than that. It gives him the option to change the pattern of the entire rally. That is a big deal.”

Roddick proceeded to suggest that Shelton is now playing one particular shot like 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.

“Once it comes to his forehand, he has got options,” he said.

“He can go big, he is doing the little hookie Rafa shot up and away to your backhand, he can turn you into a mannequin, and he is learning how to win points in an unspectacular fashion.”

The 42-year-old was keen to praise both Ben and Bryan Shelton for the work they’ve done recently.

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“That is the highest praise I can possibly give Ben Shelton at this point in his career,” said Roddick.

“Masterclass with Ben as far as progress and a masterclass with Bryan and the whole team.”

Getting their first taste of Masters 1000 success in Toronto, the Sheltons will undoubtedly look for more in Cincinnati.

Ben Shelton’s route to the Cincinnati Open title

The new world number six will compete in Cincinnati as the number five seed, and will begin his campaign on Sunday against Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli.

Should he advance past Ugo Carabelli, things could soon get tricky for Shelton, with several dangerous seeds lurking in his half of the draw.

Seed Name Round they could play Ben Shelton Head-to-head v Ben Shelton 2 Carlos Alcaraz SF 3-0 3 Alexander Zverev QF 3-0 6 Alex de Minaur SF 0-1 9 Andrey Rublev SF 0-1 12 Daniil Medvedev 4R 0-1 14 Karen Khachanov QF 0-2 16 Jakub Mensik SF 2-1 21 Alexei Popyrin SF 1-1 22 Jiri Lehecka 4R 0-1 24 Denis Shapovalov SF 0-3 26 Tallon Griekspoor SF 0-0 27 Brandon Nakashima QF 0-5 29 Luciano Darderi SF 0-1 32 Cameron Norrie 3R 1-0 Seeds in Ben Shelton’s half of the Cincinnati Open draw

Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev could stand between Shelton and a place in another Masters 1000 final, two players whom he has yet to beat.

Even if Shelton were to make it through to the final, there’s a good chance world number one Jannik Sinner could await him.

Sinner leads their head-to-head 6-1, and has already beaten Shelton twice in 2025 (Australian Open, Wimbledon).

Any talk of reaching the final is, of course, premature, as Shelton won’t want to get too far ahead of himself.

The 22-year-old will first focus on his second-round match against Ugo Carabelli on Sunday, August 10.

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