A statement from the defending champion
It was a one-sided affair on the Centre Court of IGA Stadium: Ben Shelton, seeded fifth and reigning Canadian Open champion, gave Zizou Bergs no chance in a 6-3, 6-2 victory. In just over an hour, the left-hander from Atlanta showed exactly why he ranks among the most dangerous players on tour on fast hard courts. For Bergs, the 32nd seed, it brought a difficult tournament to a close — one that had already demanded three sets against Sebastian Baez in the qualifying rounds.
Shelton controlled the match with his serve from the very first game. Eight aces, not a single double fault and a 70 percent first-serve percentage formed the foundation of a near-flawless display. A commanding 87 percent of points won on first serve went the American's way — figures that paint a vivid picture of his dominance throughout.
Bergs powerless against Shelton's serving wall
Zizou Bergs, who had claimed his first ATP Tour title on grass at Eastbourne earlier this year, never found his rhythm on a surface that has long been his least favourite. His first-serve percentage stood at just 45 percent, and 23 unforced errors repeatedly handed Shelton free points. On return, the Belgian was largely ineffective: he failed to convert a single break point, while Shelton capitalised on a remarkable 60 percent of his own.
That Bergs struggles on hard courts was hardly a secret — in their only previous meeting, in Houston in 2024, Shelton had already come out on top in three sets. That pattern repeated itself emphatically in Montreal. Shelton's left-handed serve proved close to unreadable, particularly at the key moments in both sets.
A brilliant season providing the perfect backdrop
For Shelton, reaching the round of 16 is another milestone in a remarkable 2026 season. He had already collected three titles on three different surfaces before arriving in Montreal: Dallas on hard court, Munich on clay and Stuttgart on grass. That versatility has made him one of the form players on the ATP Tour this summer — and in Montreal, where he is defending his Masters 1000 title, he looks firmly on course for a deep run.
Bergs, meanwhile, leaves Montreal without a point to show for his efforts and will need to shift his focus to surfaces that suit his game far better. Shelton, by contrast, advances to the round of 16 with real confidence — backed by serve dominance, a remarkably clean error count and the authority that comes with being the reigning champion.
