Back in April at the Munich Open, when asked by the ATP Tour about his biggest fan, Ben Shelton hesitated, caught between two giants in his life. “Probably one of my parents. My mom or my dad. I think actions speak louder than words,” he admitted. Those words rang louder than ever this week, as Bryan Shelton , the architect of his son’s rise, once again guided from the shadows. Now, with Ben crowned the youngest American ATP Masters 1000 champion since 21-year-old Andy Roddick’s 2004 Miami triumph, he makes an honest admission about his father after ending a 21-year American drought.

Ben Shelton has rocketed to a career-high World No. 6. Under the bright Toronto lights, he delivered a pulsating finale at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers, toppling Karen Khachanov in a 6-7

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