HIGHLIGHTS: Ben Shelton edges Karen Khachanov for Toronto title

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It was already a dream result for Ben Shelton in Toronto over the last week and a half, capturing the biggest title of his career at the Masters 1000 event, punctuated by a come-from-behind 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory over Karen Khachanov in the final on Thursday night.

And with that clutch victory in the final comes some icing on the cake.

Shelton rises from No. 7 to No. 6 on the ATP rankings, which wouldn’t have happened had he lost in the final—but now, he passes former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic for a new career-high ranking.

In fact, it’s his fourth new career-high ranking in a row—he’s set a new personal best every week in the four weeks since Wimbledon.

BEN SHELTON'S CASCADE OF CAREER-HIGHS:

  • No. 10 to No. 9 on July 14th [after QFs of Wimbledon]
  • No. 9 to No. 8 on July 21st [Rune dipped from No. 8 to No. 9]
  • No. 8 to No. 7 on July 28th [after SFs of Washington D.C.]
  • No. 7 to No. 6 on August 4th [after Canada title]

The new ATP rankings are backdated to this past Monday, August 4th. The next update will come after Cincinnati on Monday, August 18th.

Shelton made his Top 10 debut a few weeks before Wimbledon, at No. 10, after a semifinal showing on the grass of Stuttgart.

Shelton could break into the Top 5 after Cincinnati with a deep run at the Masters 1000 event.

Shelton could break into the Top 5 after Cincinnati with a deep run at the Masters 1000 event.

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It’s possible Shelton’s climb could continue after Cincinnati, too—he’s now just 330 points behind No. 5-ranked Jack Draper. And though he does have 40 more points dropping on the next rankings than Draper, the Brit is also not competing in Cincinnati this year.

There’s some good news for Khachanov today, too, as he rises from No. 16 to No. 12 after reaching the second Masters 1000 final of his career in Toronto. The 29-year-old, who won his first Masters 1000 title in Paris in 2018, reached a career-high of No. 8 the following year.

And a little bit further down there’s another breakthrough, as Alexei Popyrin makes his Top 20 debut, rising from No. 26 to No. 19 after reaching the quarterfinals in Canada. The Australian was the defending champion at the event, winning it in Montreal a year ago.

Points from Canada and Cincinnati last year will all drop off the ATP rankings on the post-Cincinnati rankings this year. Click here for more on how the rankings will work in the coming weeks.