Ben Shelton in Toronto and Victoria Mboko in Montreal light up the tennis scene

Last week, the tennis scene delivered high drama, rising stars, and brilliant comebacks—both on the ATP and WTA circuits. Here’s a crisp breakdown of the standout performances.

ATP Tour: Ben Shelton wins the National Bank Open in Toronto

Ben Shelton lit up Toronto with fire and focus. In the National Bank Open final, he edged past Karen Khachanov to claim his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy. Shelton’s aggression paid off as he won 80% of his first serve points and 70% of his second, braving enormous pressure from his opponent. Shelton needed all the steel he could afford to work his way past Khachanov, who yielded barely an inch. In the end it was a hard fought 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(3) victory for his first big title. His semi against Taylor Fritz was a showcase of intensity, ending in straight sets for Shelton. Khachanov, for his part, stunned top seed Alexander Zverev in the semis, overcoming a tough three-setter that thrilled fans with its momentum swings.

Reilly Opelka and young American Learner Tien also rode strong waves in early rounds, securing wins before falling to more experienced hands. But nothing captivated Toronto more than Vasek Pospisil’s emotional final career match—a fitting sendoff for the Canadian veteran.

In Cincinnati, action ramped up quickly. Carlos Alcaraz started strong, dropping just one set on the way to R3. Adam Walton pulled the week’s biggest upset, knocking out 2019 champ Daniil Medvedev in a comeback—never giving up, never blinking. Zverev, Ben Shelton, and Andrey Rublev marched forward, each showing the kind of tennis that keeps them at the top of the conversation.

WTA Tour: Montreal’s Young Queen

Montreal was all about the rise of Victoria Mboko. The Canadian wildcard claimed hearts and headlines, winning her maiden WTA 1000 title with a comeback victory over four-time Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the final—2-6, 6-4, 6-1. Mboko took out Top-3 star Coco Gauff in the round of 16 and saved a match point against Elena Rybakina in the semifinals. Every match revealed nerves of steel, culminating in her career-best week.

Naomi Osaka returned to the spotlight with her first WTA final since 2023. She played her best tennis of the year, saving match points and outlasting tough opponents like Samsonova and Tauson. Her run in Montreal signaled a real return to form—even in defeat, her power and poise made headlines.

Meanwhile, Coco Gauff doubled up, clinching the doubles crown alongside McCartney Kessler—proving she remains a force across formats. Mboko’s triumph ended Bouzkova’s seven-match streak and powered a new generation in Canadian tennis.

On both tours, the old guard and new blood mixed it up. Ben Shelton and Victoria Mboko stepped into the limelight, while veterans like Zverev, Osaka, and Khachanov refused to fade away. Every week brings fresh contenders—last week’s drama was tennis at its unpredictable, electrifying best.

Short rallies, brave shots, and relentless focus. That’s what defined this week. On the ATP and WTA stages, excellence met opportunity—Shelton and Mboko grasped it tight, and fans everywhere are already waiting for the next chapter.

Ben Shelton - Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Victoria Mboko - Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images