Russian?Armenian tennis star and world No.?16 Karen Khachanov has advanced to the semifinals of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament, the National Bank Open, in Toronto, Canada, defeating American Alex?Michelsen in straight sets — 6?4, 7?6?(7?3) — on Monday, reports Zartonk Sports.
The match lasted 1 hour and 44 minutes, with Khachanov displaying composure, control, and tactical discipline to outmaneuver the 19?year?old Michelsen, who was the youngest American to reach a Masters?1000 quarterfinal in Canada since Andy Roddick in 2003.
Earlier in the tournament, Khachanov delivered a commanding second?round win against Argentine qualifier Juan Pablo Ficovich (6?4, 6?2), overcame American Emilio Nava in a tight three?set battle — 6?7?(6), 6?4, 6?1 — and defeated world No.?9 Casper Ruud 6?4, 7?5 in the round of 16. This victory over Michelsen marks Khachanov’s sixth career appearance in a Masters?level semifinal and his third time reaching this stage in Canada, having done so previously in 2018 and 2019.
For a place in the final, Khachanov will face world No.?3 Alexander Zverev (Germany), the top seed at the tournament. Zverev advanced after defeating world No.?26 Alexei Popyrin (Australia) in a gritty three?set battle: 6?7?(8?10), 6?4, 6?3.
This also marks a career milestone for the 29?year?old: Khachanov has now reached the semifinals of ATP tournaments on all three surfaces (clay, grass, and hard) in the same season — a first in his career. He reached the semifinals in Barcelona (clay) and Halle (grass) earlier this year and now adds Toronto (hard) to complete the set.
Khachanov, known for his mental toughness, often starts his mornings with chess matches against his coach José Clavet, using the game to sharpen his focus. Clavet, who has coached several top Spanish players, has played a critical role in elevating Khachanov’s strategic depth and composure under pressure.
The Toronto Masters, officially known as the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers, is part of the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 series. Played on outdoor hard courts in Toronto, Canada, it offers a total prize fund of $9.19 million for 2025 and serves as a critical lead-up event to the US Open.
