An open field gives us two first-timers

Mboko and Shelton win maiden Masters titles, Draper says see ya to the Swoosh, and a potential player podcast.

The Replay

Although there are many subtypes, I’ve learned that there are essentially two broad categories of tennis fans: those who only care if the tippity top players are involved and… the rest of us. Obviously, the second group is way more legit. In the lead-up to the ATP Masters 1000 in Toronto, there was a lot of online whining about what a bust it would be without Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz (not to mention Djokovic, who some people are holding onto with such desperation it makes me wonder if they even like the larger sport). God forbid we have any intrigue over who takes the title, right?

But the results this week on both the ATP and WTA side underscored the beauty of a more open field. (The WTA is less predictable in general, which I love, and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka opting out of the Masters in Montreal only added to that.) We have two first-time and very well-deserved Masters 1000 winners in Victoria Mboko and Ben Shelton. Watching them rise to the occasion despite the…