Ben Shelton directed a dynamic breakthrough in Toronto.

The 22-year-old Shelton played with poise and power out-dueling Karen Khachanov 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) in the National Bank Open final to become the youngest American ATP Masters 1000 champion since 21-year-old Andy Roddick collected the 2004 Miami Open championship.

A resilient Shelton won three of his six Toronto matches in decisive third-set tiebreakers, including beating compatriot Brandon Nakashima 6-7(8), 6-2, 7-6(5) and fending off Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(1) in a match where, for a brief moment, it looked like the competitors might become combatants and throw hands in the post-match handshake.

Facing the powerful Khachanov, Shelton played some of his most dynamic tennis in the third-set tiebreaker.

“Yeah, really happy. I’m really grateful for the opportunity,” Shelton said. “I feel like it was a perfect storm for me this week. A lot of tight matches, long matches, played some of the best tennis that I’ve played this year. And to finish out the week the way that I did, especially with the opponent that I had today, and the way that he was playing, I couldn’t be happier.”

Rising past Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic to No. 6 in the ATP rankings, Shelton shared the secret of his star-turn performance in Toronto.

One of the sport’s finest athletes played captive audience before each of his six victories at the National Bank Open.

Former quarterback Shelton took a page from his football past watching game film of each of his Toronto opponents. Shelton said the video study gave him greater insight into opponents’ tendencies while raising his Tennis IQ

“For me it’s being in the later stages of the tournament and playing against guys who are playing their best tennis to see where I match up, and see where my weaknesses are and where I can get better,” Shelton told the media in Toronto. “I think that watching film is a huge piece for me, something that I didn’t do as much in the past, and as of late it’s been kind of an every-match thing for me, at least watching one  match or one set start to finish on the guy I’m playing.

“I think it’s an important piece of the game that maybe I overlooked a little bit in the past, or didn’t think was as important, because I was like, I’m going to impose my game on whoever I was playing, but it’s a really important part of the game. I think that my tennis IQ and my tennis mind is something that is getting better, and something that needs to continue to get better.”

The Australian Open semifinalist created a highlight reel finish in Toronto and is intent on directing another deep run at the US Open later this month.

“I hope that this week kind of kick starts me and gets me more consistent with the type of tennis that I want to play day-in and day-out,” Shelton said. “It’s certainly going to push me to
work harder. I feel like I have a good grasp now on the things that really work for me against guys who are playing some of the best tennis in the world, and the things that I need to continue to work on.”