Russian?Armenian tennis star and world No.?16 Karen Khachanov has advanced to the final of the ATP Masters?1000 tournament, the National Bank Open, in Toronto, Canada, defeating No.?1 seed and world No.?3 Alexander Zverev of Germany in a gripping semifinal — 6?3, 4?6, 7?6?(4) — on Wednesday night, reports Zartonk Sports.
In a match that lasted 2 hours and 52 minutes, the 29?year?old Khachanov demonstrated remarkable grit and shot?making under pressure, ultimately prevailing with precision in the decisive third?set tiebreak. He eliminated the tournament’s top seed with powerful serving and steely nerves to reach his first Masters 1000 final in over six years.
He will now face 22?year?old Ben Shelton of the United States, the No.?4 seed, who defeated No.?2 seed Taylor Fritz 6?4, 6?3 in the all?American semifinal on Wednesday night to advance to his first ATP Masters 1000 final. With the win, Shelton became the youngest American to reach a Masters 1000 final since Andy Roddick in 2004, also on Centre Court in Toronto.
Thursday’s championship match is scheduled for 4 p.m. PST.
Earlier in the tournament, Khachanov recorded several strong victories: overcoming Argentine qualifier Juan Pablo Ficovich (6?4, 6?2), prevailing in a three?set battle over American Emilio Nava (6?7?(6), 6?4, 6?1), and beating world No.?9 Casper Ruud (6?4, 7?5). He then dispatched 19?year?old Alex Michelsen in the quarterfinals (6?4, 7?6?(7?3)), showcasing composure and tactical discipline throughout.
Khachanov has now reached the semifinals of ATP tournaments on clay (Barcelona), grass (Halle), and hard courts (Toronto) in the same season — a testament to his adaptability across all surfaces.
This semifinal triumph marks Khachanov’s first Masters 1000 final appearance since winning the Paris Masters in 2018. Despite being unseeded in the draw, he has now defeated two top?10 players — Ruud and Zverev — en route to the final.
The Toronto Masters, officially the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers, is a key ATP Masters 1000 event played on outdoor hard courts, featuring a prize pool of $9.19 million in 2025 and serving as a vital lead-in to the US Open.
