Ben Shelton wins Munich title, first American since Agassi to achieve this.

Match Recap

Ben Shelton Triumphs in Munich, Making History as First American Since Agassi to Achieve This…

Second seed becomes the first American in over a decade to secure three ATP 500 titles.

April 19, 2026

Ben Shelton celebrated his fifth ATP Tour title, claiming his second on clay, at the BMW Open by Bitpanda in Munich, defeating fourth seed Flavio Cobolli with a score of 6-2, 7-5.

Last year, the second seed faced disappointment in the final against Alexander Zverev, but this time he was determined to rewrite history, overcoming World No. 16 Cobolli and achieving his first Top 20 win on clay.

“I started strong and kept my intensity up,” Shelton shared in his post-match interview. “The hardest part is maintaining that level when your opponent starts to elevate theirs. I was able to do that in the second set and executed some impressive plays. The progress I made throughout the week was gratifying, and I’m proud of the hard work my team and I put in.”

Having previously won a clay title in Houston in 2024, Shelton is the first American to claim a trophy on this surface above the ATP 250 level since Agassi’s Rome victory in 2002. At just 23 years old, he now holds a 4-2 head-to-head advantage over Cobolli.

“I have lofty goals for my performance on clay,” Shelton remarked. “I’m dedicated to improving each year; it’s gradually becoming one of my favorite surfaces to compete on.”

Ben Shelton makes history as the first American man since 2009 to snag three ATP 500 crowns, joining the ranks of legends like Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Sam Querrey, and Sebastian Korda as the fifth American to claim a clay title at the tour level outside the U.S. this century.

Shelton set the tone early, breaking Cobolli’s serve in the opening game and warding off six break points in his first service game. While the Italian raised his game in the second set after defeating Zverev in the semis, he struggled to break Shelton’s resilient serve. The American faced only one more break point after the initial game, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and rallied from 0/30 on serve at 4-5 before sealing the match with a break after Cobolli’s unfortunate double fault.

In an exhilarating showdown, Shelton showcased his agility with a jaw-dropping overhead and an incredible return from the sideboards during a particularly exciting game. After clinching victory in just 90 minutes, he joyfully celebrated with his entourage on the court.

Throughout the tournament, Shelton fought hard to achieve three-set victories over Emilio Nava and Joao Fonseca, while defeating Alexander Blockx and Alex Molcan in straight sets. Currently ranked No. 6 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, he is just 30 points away from World No. 5 Felix Auger-Aliassime.