Khachanov and Shelton Set for Toronto Title Showdown

Karen Khachanov and Ben Shelton face off in the ATP Toronto Masters final after thrilling wins over Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz, respectively.

“We've had a lot of matches and I'm happy to beat him after losing some easy ones...”

Karen Khachanov will face Ben Shelton in the Toronto title showdown after overcoming top seed Alexander Zverev and Shelton defeating second seed Taylor Fritz.

Khachanov came from behind to beat Zverev 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) in a thrilling match, winning the final-set tiebreaker from 3-1 down.

Ben Shelton, seeded fourth, dominated Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3 in the first All-American Masters 1000 semifinal in 15 years, securing his spot in the ATP Toronto final. This marks the fifth and most significant ATP final of Shelton's final appearance.

Shelton's victory came after a strong performance, where he seized a second break for a 3-2 lead in the second set with a perfect lob over Fritz's head. He closed out the match with another break, despite Fritz's frustration, which culminated in the American double faulting on match point.

This win is notable not just for the victory itself but also for being the first All-American Masters 1000 semifinal in 15 years. Shelton expressed happiness with his level and execution during the tournament, highlighting his improvement and confidence in his game.

Russia's 11th seed Karen Khachanov overcame a match point to defeat world number three Alexander Zverev, leveling the deciding set at 6-6 after Zverev hit a backhand into the net. This win marked a significant turnaround for Khachanov, who had lost his two previous semi-finals in Canada.

Zverev struggled with 44 unforced errors in the nearly three-hour match, while Khachanov had 29 winners and 34 unforced errors.

”It was very demanding physically and mentally,” Khachanov said. “I had to work out this match, dig deep and try my best.”

Khachanov reflected on his win, saying, “We've had a lot of matches and I'm happy to beat him after losing some easy ones,” referencing their past encounters, including the Tokyo Olympic singles final.

“It was a tough one - I was match point down,” Khachanov added. “I'm just happy things went on my side at the end.” He acknowledged the tension, stating, “It got tense at the end.”

“When you reach the final tiebreak, you have to play your best. You can't waste time and energy with negative thoughts or you won't succeed. You never know what will happen but you have to give it a try.”

Chasing glory in Toronto 🏆@karenkhachanov @BenShelton #NBO25 pic.twitter.com/QWg87srVLl

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 7, 2025

Khachanov will play in his first final of the season, having been defeated in the semifinals in Barcelona and Halle.

The match between Shelton and Fritz was briefly delayed due to an issue with the electronic line-calling system when they took to the court.

The brief delay barely fazed 22-year-old Shelton, the world number seven, who had previously beaten Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals. With his win over Fritz, Shelton notched his first back-to-back victories over top 10 opponents.

Fritz, a US Open finalist, saved four break points in the third game but ultimately lost his serve in the ninth game, allowing Shelton to serve for the set.

Shelton took control in the second set, seizing a second break for a 3-2 lead with a perfectly placed lob over Fritz's head, and then held his serve at love to take a 5-3 lead.

RESILIENCE 👏@karenkhachanov saves a match point to come through an epic against Zverev and makes the final in Toronto!#NBO25 pic.twitter.com/hMmjueb8gE

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 7, 2025

Shelton sealed the win with another break, and Fritz's frustration boiled over as he double faulted on match point, mangling his racquet over his knee in anger.

“I'm happy with my level and how I executed," Shelton said. “I've seen so many big improvements in my game this week. That's what I'm most happy about, how I'm executing, how little I'm hesitating, how I'm returning.

“Beating two top 10 guys back-to-back is huge for me.

“I felt I had the ball on a string,” he added. “I'm excited to play like this, hitting the ball and expecting it to go in.”