"I learned to win without playing my best tennis," savors Shelton after qualifying for the final in Toronto

Ben Shelton will compete in the final of the Toronto Masters 1000. The American defeated his compatriot Taylor Fritz (6-4, 6-3) and secured his first final in this tournament category.

Before facing Karen Khachanov this Thursday, the world No. 7 appeared at a press conference and reflected on his performance against the No. 2 seed in the Canadian city.

"I'm learning to vary directions and change speeds to become a much more solid tennis player than before. I had never performed this well in a Masters 1000 before coming to Canada this year, so this means a lot to me.

I’d say the key to my progress is resilience. Lately, I’ve been able to win tough matches even when I’m not feeling my best—I’ve learned to win without playing my best tennis.

Finding ways to overcome difficult situations is fantastic. Dominating long rallies against players like Alex De Minaur and Taylor Fritz gives me huge confidence in what I’m doing.

I’ve realized I need to play more topspin shots to then step into the court and be aggressive," analyzed Shelton, 22, after his semifinal victory for *Punto de Break*.