Ben Shelton is an ATP champion after beating Aslan Karatsev in the 2023 Japan Open final and he's quite happy about it.
Ben Shelton finished off his superb month in Asia with a stunning performance in the Japan Open final to beat Aslan Karatsev in two sets. It's the first final for Shelton and the first ATP trophy he won in his career, and it's a big one.
Not many players start with an ATP 500 trophy, and it's a good indication for the future because the American won't stop here. Plenty of more trophies are coming in the future, and he's excited about it. This trophy meant a lot to Shelton, who worked really hard toward this goal.
That meant a lot to me and my team. We have been working really hard since the beginning to build my game and win titles on the ATP Tour. I made some deep runs lately. You see the great champions, they finish weeks off.
They win titles, they don't just get to finals. They are able to maintain their level throughout the week. I am not saying I am anywhere there yet, but to be able to do it for one week, put together five matches in a row in Tokyo is really special.
Shelton hopes to finish the year strongly because he's in a great position to do so. He's in form, and indoor tennis suits the way he plays the game. He finished last year very well indoors in the United States, earning himself a spot in the Top 100.
This year, he's already in the Top 15, and there is a chance he could even finish in the Top 10. Everything is on the table for Shelton, who is enjoying life right now. And he's an ATP champion officially. Well deserved.
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