Ben Shelton faces Brandon Nakashima in a battle of the Americans at the Canadian Open tonight under the lights at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto.
Shelton arrives after a commanding 6-2, 6-3, second-round victory over the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. He’s had a stellar 2025 with a 26-16 record, but is empty-handed in August with no titles yet.
With an explosive serve and remarkable endurance, he’s prevailed in some intense matches this year, including most recently at the DC Open against Frances Tiafoe. He’s gone deep into this year’s Grand Slams, only to lose to Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz — neither of whom is a factor in Toronto.
Nakashima has had a solid year as well, with a 23-19 record. But the man he faces tonight has knocked him out of several tournaments this year.
Nakashima-Shelton Head-to-Head
Their rivalry is firmly in Shelton’s favor, who holds a 4-0 lead in the head-to-head. But there’s more to the story. All four matches were nail-biters, featuring multiple tiebreaks and sets decided by just a single break of serve.
What to Watch
Shelton’s left‑hand serve is perhaps the most dangerous weapon in men’s tennis right now.
Nakashima, who hits fewer aces but only averages about 1 double‑fault, burns less risk by staying patient and moving Shelton forward with deep returns and a flat forehand.
If Shelton uses pace early and keeps rallies short, he can dictate with first-strike tennis. If Nakashima neutralizes serve with return depth and lobs at opportune moments, he has a path to extend rallies and swing momentum.
Prediction
Shelton in two close sets. While Nakashima can punch his way into the match on serve returns, expect Shelton to prevail in two close sets if he maintains his serve heat and first-serve percentage.
How to Watch Brandon Nakashima vs. Ben Shelton
Tonight’s match between Brandon Nakashima and Ben Shelton is expected to start at around 8:45 PM Eastern on Centre Court at Sobeys Stadium — Taylor Fritz’s straight sets win over the Canadian Gabriel Diallo.
The match will air live on the Tennis Channel as part of its Centre Court coverage.
A dedicated stream for the Nakashima–Shelton match is available on the Tennis Channel website here.
A standalone Tennis Channel streaming subscription is available for $9.99/month or $109.99/year.
Nakashima vs. Shelton
Date: Friday, August 1, 2025
Estimated Start Time: 8:45 PM Eastern (after Fritz-Diallo).
Venue: Sobeys Stadium, Toronto
Court: Centre Court
TV: Tennis Channel
Streaming: Tennis Channel app and website
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