In a dramatic night of tennis at Toronto’s Sobeys Stadium, young American Ben Shelton powered past compatriot Taylor Fritz, while Karen Khachanov pulled off a surprise upset over top-seeded Alexander Zverev to reach the National Bank Open final.
Shelton, 22, played with electric confidence in a 6-4, 6-3 semi-final win, becoming the youngest American to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final since Andy Roddick’s 2004 run—also in Toronto.
“Tonight things were easier because everything was clicking,” said Shelton after his win.
The evening began with delays. A malfunction in the electronic line-calling system just after the warm-up caused an awkward wait, stretching the schedule.
But once the match got underway, Shelton quickly found his rhythm. His consistency and flair proved too much for the second-seeded Fritz, who struggled to cope with Shelton’s touch and variation.
Facing a break point in the second set, Shelton produced the shot of the night—a delicate backhand lob after a cat-and-mouse exchange that left Fritz flailing.
“The ball sat up a little bit, so that made it easier,” said Shelton. “For me, that’s a shot that since I’ve been a kid, I’ve always been really good at it.”
Shelton sealed the 78-minute match with a double fault from Fritz and raised a finger to the sky in quiet celebration.
He now boasts a remarkable 26-1 record this season when winning the first set. Their clash also marked the first all-American semi-final at an ATP Masters 1000 event since 2010, when Mardy Fish beat Andy Roddick in Cincinnati.
Ben Shelton’s rise continues as he reaches his first Masters 1000 final, while Karen Khachanov makes headlines with a gritty win over Alexander Zverev in a night packed with drama, precision, and a glimpse into tennis’ future.
Khachanov Fights Past Zverev in a Nail-Biting Decider
Earlier, Russia’s Karen Khachanov delivered a gutsy performance to oust world No. 3 Alexander Zverev in a match that lasted nearly three hours. The 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) result marks Khachanov’s first victory over a top-10 opponent this season.
“It’s always a question of what you do in those important moments when it counts,” said the 11th-seeded Khachanov.
Both players came out firing, showcasing monstrous serves under the humid Toronto skies. But unforced errors proved costly for Zverev, with 11 miscues in the opening set allowing Khachanov to grab the early edge.
Zverev battled back in the second, breaking serve at love to force a decider. However, in the tiebreak, his form wavered. Khachanov remained composed, capitalising on Zverev’s late fade to close out the marathon match.
“The first set was terrible,” admitted Zverev. “I kind of gave him a head start, and he’s too good to not use that.”
The stage is now set for a gripping final, with Shelton and Khachanov meeting again after the American won their previous clash earlier this year in Indian Wells.
“He’s a rock-solid baseliner,” said Shelton of his next opponent. “He serves really well, and he’s a great competitor.”
All-British Doubles Final On the Horizon
In doubles action, British duo Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski booked their place in the final with a commanding 7-6(5), 6-2 victory over Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni.
Their next challenge? Fellow Brits Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, the tournament’s No. 2 seeds, setting up an all-British showdown for the title on Thursday.
Stay tuned for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the National Bank Open in Toronto.
