However, when Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic all withdrew from the Canadian Open<\/a>, Shelton was quick to take advantage. <\/p>\n Taking down the likes of Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz<\/a>, the 22-year-old advanced to the final, where he met Russia\u2019s Karen Khachanov.<\/p>\n After three sets of thrilling action, Shelton defeated Khachanov<\/a>, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, to clinch his maiden Masters 1000 title.<\/p>\n It has now been revealed that Shelton was helped along the way by Madison Keys\u2019<\/a> former coach, who offered up some advice during the tournament.<\/p>\n Jesse Levine told Ben Shelton to \u2018take 10 or 15mph off\u2019 his wide serve in Toronto<\/p>\n Appearing as a guest on \u2018The Slice Tennis\u2019, Keys\u2019 former coach Jesse Levine shared what Shelton did that impressed him in Toronto.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was insane for me watching Shelton play like that [against Alex de Minaur]. I have seen him play many times live, but his improvements besides the serve are second to none,\u201d said Levine.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did the same thing against [Taylor] Fritz, too. I was super impressed. It\u2019s funny because after the De Minaur match, I went to talk to his Dad. I know his Dad really well.<\/p>\n \u201cI have known Bryan [Shelton] for a long time; he actually tried to hire me as the assistant coach before I took the job with Madison Keys, so I almost worked with him, which would have been really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n Levine revealed the contents of his conversation with Bryan Shelton, including the advice he gave to the young American.<\/p>\n \u201cBryan came up to me and said Jess, what do you think? I was like, you\u2019re asking me, I was calling the match and asking him the post-match interviews,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI was like, alright, I\u2019ll let it fly. I said to Bryan, \u2018Look, I think he is serving unreal, but on the lefty slider out wide, I feel he is hitting it too hard. I said he is hitting 200kmph out wide and it\u2019s still there for De Minaur to cut it off and hit it.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI said if he takes 10 or 15mph off that serve, it will slide away, and he will not be able to touch it.<\/p>\n \u201cBryan looked at me and said that I am going to tell him you told me, because he isn\u2019t listening to me. I was like, go for it, you can tell him I said that.\u201d<\/p>\n Making the adjustment, Shelton shared a joke with Levine after his semifinal win over Fritz.<\/p>\n \u201cThe next match, he beats Fritz, and I was doing the on-court interview live to the house, and before I went on camera, Ben came over and he was like, \u2018See that? I took 10mph off that slider out wide!\u201d said Levine.<\/p>\n \u201cI was like Bryan really did tell him! That\u2019s pretty cool!<\/p>\n \u201cBut he is a showman, he loves playing in front of the crowd, and those big moments do not faze him.<\/p>\n \u201cThey only get him more fired up, so it was extremely impressive to watch the level of Shelton throughout that week.\u201d<\/p>\n Lifting the title shortly after, Shelton added his name to the list of \u2018active\u2019 Masters 1000 champions.<\/p>\n Travelling to Cincinnati full of confidence, Shelton has already made a strong start as he searches for his second consecutive title.<\/p>\n Ben Shelton makes a strong start in Cincinnati<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2228003717-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Julian Avram\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2228368242-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Julian Avram\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n
![\"Roberto](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2229454564-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Matthew Stockman\/Getty Images<\/p>\n