Ben Shelton, the 22-year-old American ranked world No. 7, issued a bold warning to Alex de Minaur ahead of their quarterfinal showdown at the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto, stating, “I’m prepared for a war,” as reported by Sportskeeda on August 4, 2025. Shelton’s fiery comment came after his dramatic 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(1) victory over Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in the fourth round on August 3, a match marked by a heated net exchange over a perceived contentious gesture by Cobolli. The win, Shelton’s 100th ATP tour-level victory, showcased his mental toughness, as he rallied from a 5-3 deficit in the third set to dominate the tiebreak, hammering a 12th ace to seal the match.
De Minaur, the No. 9 seed from Australia, advanced with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win over Frances Tiafoe, highlighted by a stunning defensive point dubbed the “point of the year” by fans on X, like @TennisProTrader. Shelton’s warning reflects the challenge of facing De Minaur, known for his relentless speed and counterpunching, especially after the Australian’s recent ATP 500 title in Washington, D.C., and his climb to No. 8 in the live ATP rankings, closing in on Novak Djokovic’s No. 6 spot. “Alex is one of the toughest guys out there. His legs don’t quit, and he’s in unreal shape. I’m ready for a grind, a war, whatever it takes,” Shelton said, per Tennis TV.
This marks their first tour-level meeting, with Shelton aiming for his maiden ATP Masters 1000 semifinal.
In an interview Ben Shelton stated;
“Yeah, he’s a dawg. I’m ready for it. And for people who haven’t heard that saying, that’s a good thing (laughing). He’s very fast. He’s in a great rhythm, you saw what he did in DC. He’s a great front runner, and you can never count him out when he’s down,” Ben Shelton said.
He went on to say;
“So I’m prepared for a war. I’m really excited. It’s our first matchup. We’ve had some practice, some competitive practice sets. He puts it on the line in practice as well, that’s one of the things that I love about him. Yeah, I’m really excited.”
His 2025 season includes a Wimbledon quarterfinal and a Washington semifinal, but De Minaur’s 30-12 record and new Wilson Ultra v5 racket give him an edge. Posts on X, like @TheTennisLetter’s, hyped the matchup, noting Shelton’s big-serving, left-handed style against De Minaur’s defensive prowess. The winner faces Andrey Rublev or the victor of Taylor Fritz vs. Jiri Lehecka, with Shelton’s confidence signaling a blockbuster clash as he chases a breakthrough in Toronto.
