Tennis roundup: Ben Shelton wins first ATP title; triumphs also for Gael Monfils, Alexander Bublik

Rising star Ben Shelton said he planned to celebrate his first ATP Tour title with a cheeseburger and credited his “more subdued” approach for his Japan Open victory on Sunday. The 21-year-old American beat Russian Aslan Karatsev 7-5, 6-1 in Tokyo to lift his first trophy, just over a year since turning professional. Shelton’s powerful shots and on-court theatrics have made headlines but he said he had made a conscious effort to be “calm, cool and collected” this week. The world number 19 said his new approach had “really helped me to keep my head on straight”. “How much energy I spend, when to show emotion, when not to show emotion, it’s something that I’m kind of learning and figuring out for myself,” he said. “Compared to most of my weeks out on tour, I was much quieter, more subdued this week. “I think it’s all about finding the balance.” Shelton was more composed than world number 50 Karatsev, who smashed his racquet in the second set as the match spiralled out of his control. Shelton won the first set after breaking his opponent for a 6-5 lead, and comfortably took the second as Karatsev fell to pieces. Shelton reached the Australian Open quarter-finals in January and the US Open semi-finals last month, and he said that his fledgling career had exceeded his expectations. “In no way did I expect that my first season on tour would go like this but I’m just taking it and running with it,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed all the experience that I’ve had on tour so far, the wins, the losses – I feel like I’ve learned a lot about myself this year.” ‘All business’

RAISE IT UP HIGH 🏆 @BenShelton #KinoshitaGroupJapanOpen pic.twitter.com/5EmHNdqBEW

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 22, 2023

Shelton went straight over to hug his father and coach Bryan after Karatsev had hit a shot long to end the match. Shelton has become known for celebrating wins with his now-trademark “dialled-in” gesture with an imaginary telephone. He did not perform the routine all week in Tokyo and said he liked to “be creative” with his celebrations. “One of my friends here was saying if I win I should do this celebration where you act like you’re fixing your tie and your suit and holding a briefcase, like it’s all business,” he said. “I kind of did that a little bit after I shook hands with the ref – maybe that celebration makes another appearance later in my career, who knows.” Shelton had to work hard to reach the final in Tokyo, with three of his matches going to three sets. He looked dead and buried in the semi-final, with American Marcos Giron a set up and serving for the match at 5-2. Shelton said he had found a new resilience and was happy to find stability after “a roller coaster week”. He said he would try to let the title “sink in” before he returns to action in Vienna next week. “I’m really happy with the way I competed this week and I’m not sure what the future holds,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to tomorrow, looking forward to my next tournament.” Monfils rallies to win 12th ATP title in Stockholm

37yo Gael Monfils smiles again, comes back to beat Pavel Kotov 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 and win the 12th title of his career in Stockholm. Lowest ranked player to ever win this historic event.

2nd title in this tournament, 12 years after the first.

Back on top 100.

What a story. pic.twitter.com/tQbQ6h8tb6

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 22, 2023

French veteran Gael Monfils rallied past Russian qualifier Pavel Kotov to win the 12th ATP title of his career and first this season in Stockholm on Sunday. Monfils, ranked 140th, won 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 against his 109th-ranked opponent for his second title in the Swedish capital after 2011. The 37-year-old has endured a season plagued by foot and wrist injuries. He is just the fourth player above the age of 37 to win an ATP Tour title since 1990, joining Roger Federer, Ivo Karlovic and Feliciano Lopez. Monfils was pushed hard in the two hour-35 minute clash on his way to becoming the oldest champion in the history of the tournament. “Credit to Pavel,” said Monfils after the first meeting between the pair. “He has had an unbelievable week and he was pushing me on the court. I ran a lot today. When I had to save break points in the second set, I tried to push through. “I don’t know how I pulled up but I kept believing and fighting.” Monfils dropped just two sets on his way to the trophy, his first since Adelaide in January last year, and will move up to 89th in the ATP rankings. Kotov, 24, was aiming to win his first title on Sunday in his maiden final. Bublik wins third ATP title in Antwerp

And there it is 🙌

The moment Alexander Bublik captured his 3rd title by defeating Fils in Antwerp! pic.twitter.com/mNXZOfgzZ0

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 22, 2023

Kazakh Alexander Bublik swept past France’s Arthur Fils 6-4, 6-4 to win his third ATP tournament trophy in Antwerp on Sunday. The 36th-ranked Bublik, who came into the event having lost in the opening round of all five tournaments he contested since his run to the Wimbledon fourth round, won through in one-hour 16 minutes against his 38th-ranked French opponent. Fils had been chasing his second title of the season after winning at home in Lyon in May, having ousted Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-final in the Belgian tournament. But the 19-year-old came up against Bublik’s solid serve and paid for a string of unforced errors. The Kazakh, 26, wrapped up the first set in 34 minutes after breaking his rival’s serve at 2-2. He broke early in the second and staved off two break points at 3-2 to seal his third title after Halle this year and Montpellier in 2022.