ATP 500 – Tokyo: Shelton defeats Karatsev in the final to win his first ATP tournament

This Sunday in Tokyo, Aslan Karatsev and Ben Shelton were pitted against each other in the eagerly-awaited final of the Japan Open 2023. At 20 years of age, it was the American who emerged victorious from this duel, after winning in two sets (7-5, 6-1). This is his first ATP Tour title.

For Ben Shelton, the first is the right one. First final on the ATP Tour, first victory. And it wasn’t a sure thing, far from it. If this final was eagerly awaited, it was because two in-form men were pitted against each other. On one side, Russia’s Aslan Karatsev had not lost a set since the start of the tournament and was finally back to his best. On the other, American Ben Shelton, a little less consistent but continuing his good momentum from the US Open. Shelton cracked Karatsev to win the Japan Open final 7-5 / 6-1, the first major tour title of his young career. His incredible flashes of brilliance and good quality of service got the better of the Russian, after 1h24 of play.

The point that decides the game

Trailing 5-7 and 1-3 in the second set, Karatsev was in trouble, but nothing was over. The Russian is only one break behind and leads 40-0 on his serve. He goes up to the net to deliver a volley that at first glance seems perfect, but is eventually judged to be a fault by the video assistant. Afterwards, Shelton hit a string of winners, much to the Russian’s dismay. On the verge of being knocked out of the game he had taken for granted, Karatsev was enraged and smashed his racket. And that’s a rare thing. Shelton concludes the double break and wins every game until the end of the match.