Ben Shelton and Victoria Mboko both post just one word on Instagram after winning the Canadian Open

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It was a great day to be a young player on Thursday, as two of the sport’s brightest stars emerged victorious in Canada.

Ben Shelton and Karen Khachanov contested the men’s final, two players who defeated top-five opponents on their way to the championship match.

In three thrilling sets, Shelton defeated Khachanov 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, to become a Masters 1000 champion for the first time in his career, aged 22.

Over in Montreal, another young star made headlines, as Victoria Mboko took down Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Winning her first WTA title, the 18-year-old announced herself as a true contender in the women’s game.

Reacting to the biggest wins of their respective careers, Shelton and Mboko quickly took to social media to share their thoughts.

Ben Shelton and Victoria Mboko post one-word reactions on social media

Heading to Instagram, Shelton provided a one-word reaction to his Canadian Open triumph.

“Champ,” he said.

Shelton’s bold one-word reaction was to be expected, as the American possesses more confidence than most.

Mboko’s one-word reaction wasn’t quite so confident, as she couldn’t believe what she had just achieved.

“What,” she exclaimed.

Replying to Mboko’s post, Shelton sent a goat emoji, which in sports terms often refers to the ‘greatest of all time’.

Any talk of Mboko becoming the greatest of all time is no doubt premature, but she’s certainly on the right track.

Victoria Mboko matches Serena Williams’ legendary feat in Canada

Mboko enjoyed a stellar run to the title in Montreal, defeating four former Grand Slam champions.

Doing so at the age of 18 years, 11 months, Mboko became the youngest player since Serena Williams (17 years, 11 months) to beat four Grand Slam champions in a single event.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion beat four major winners en route to the US Open title in 1999.

At 17 years old, Williams proved she belonged with the very best as she battled past Grand Slam champions in New York, 26 years ago.

Williams is considered by many to be the ‘G.O.A.T.’ of women’s tennis, so for Mboko to match her in this regard is mightily impressive.

There is a long way to go for Mboko, of course, as she has yet to win a major title, while Williams has 23 to her name, but if she can continue to play as well as she did in Montreal, then there’s no limit to what she can achieve.

Mboko is likely to make her next appearance on court at the US Open, the event Williams won for the first time in 1999, as the youngster announced her intentions to skip the Cincinnati Open during her post-match press conference.

Fans will no doubt be eager to see what Mboko can do on her tournament debut when the event begins on Sunday, August 24.

We may not have to wait quite so long to see Shelton back in action, however, as the soon-to-be world number six is scheduled to return in Cincinnati, a few days from now.

Who will Ben Shelton play in his first match at the Cincinnati Open?

Receiving a bye into round two, Shelton will begin his campaign against either Camilo Ugo Carabelli or Kei Nishikori.

Shelton has yet to play Argentina’s Ugo Carabelli on the ATP Tour, but won his one previous meeting with Nishikori, defeating him at the 2024 French Open.

The young American will be a heavy favorite to advance against either player, but will soon encounter some real tests, as he searches for a second consecutive Masters 1000 title.

Ben Shelton’s route to the Cincinnati Open title (By ranking)

• 2R – Camilo Ugo Carabelli
• 3R – [32] Cameron Norrie
• 4R – [12] Daniil Medvedev
• QF – [3] Alexander Zverev
• SF – [2] Carlos Alcaraz
• F – [1] Jannik Sinner

It won’t be easy, but you’d be brave to bet against the 22-year-old, who will head to Cincinnati full of confidence.

Shelton will kick off his tournament on Saturday, August 9, against Ugo Carabelli or Nishikori.