There, Shelton battled to a three-set win over Karen Khachanov<\/a>, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, picking up his first career Masters 1000 title.<\/p>\n With the Canadian Open title in the bag, Shelton<\/a> rose to a career-high ranking of sixth in the world.<\/p>\n As the 22-year-old continues to impress, former world number one Andy Roddick<\/a> has highlighted the two areas of his game that have improved the most.<\/p>\n Andy Roddick says Ben Shelton\u2019s backhand and chip have improved<\/p>\n During the latest episode of \u2018Quick Served\u2019, Roddick commented on the improvements Shelton has made to his game.<\/p>\n \u201cI like to see progress in someone\u2019s game. I like to see people who are [ranked] 12 and 13 in the world and aren\u2019t content,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo 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]<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cHis ability to drive the backhand, middle, and cross. He is not taking random cuts down the line with it, and when he does, it\u2019s a finishing shot. But comfort in really taking big swings through the middle, through cross.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n \u201cNow he can play it cross, the biggest one is that he is hitting that one inside out and it\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n \u201cHe has developed that shot, and you say the chip is a change-up, no, it\u2019s more than that. It gives him the option to change the pattern of the entire rally. That is a big deal.\u201d<\/p>\n Roddick proceeded to suggest that Shelton is now playing one particular shot like 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce it comes to his forehand, he has got options,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n The 42-year-old was keen to praise both Ben and Bryan Shelton for the work they\u2019ve done recently.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is the highest praise I can possibly give Ben Shelton at this point in his career,\u201d said Roddick.<\/p>\n \u201cMasterclass with Ben as far as progress and a masterclass with Bryan and the whole team.\u201d<\/p>\n Getting their first taste of Masters 1000 success in Toronto, the Sheltons will undoubtedly look for more in Cincinnati.<\/p>\n Ben Shelton\u2019s route to the Cincinnati Open title<\/p>\n The new world number six will compete in Cincinnati as the number five seed, and will begin his campaign on Sunday against Argentina\u2019s Camilo Ugo Carabelli.<\/p>\n Should he advance past Ugo Carabelli, things could soon get tricky for Shelton, with several dangerous seeds lurking in his half of the draw.<\/p>\n SeedNameRound they could play Ben SheltonHead-to-head v Ben Shelton2Carlos AlcarazSF3-03Alexander ZverevQF3-06Alex de MinaurSF0-19Andrey RublevSF0-112Daniil Medvedev4R0-114Karen KhachanovQF0-216Jakub MensikSF2-121Alexei PopyrinSF1-122Jiri Lehecka4R0-124Denis ShapovalovSF0-326Tallon GriekspoorSF0-027Brandon NakashimaQF0-529Luciano DarderiSF0-132Cameron Norrie3R1-0Seeds in Ben Shelton\u2019s half of the Cincinnati Open draw<\/p>\n Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev<\/a> could stand between Shelton and a place in another Masters 1000 final, two players whom he has yet to beat.<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2228244669-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Mert Alper Dervis\/Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2228248813-1-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Mert Alper Dervis\/Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n