Ben Shelton advanced to his first ATP Masters 1000 final after defeating fellow American Taylor Fritz in straight sets, 6–4, 6–3, in the second semifinal of the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto.
The match, played on Centre Court at Sobeys Stadium, lasted just under 90 minutes. Shelton, seeded fourth, delivered one of the most dominant performances of his young career.
The 22-year-old was unstoppable on serve. He won 83% of his first serve points, fired nine aces, and piled up 22 unreturned serves. He didn’t face a single break point throughout the match.
Shelton broke Fritz in the ninth game of the first set with a blistering forehand winner. He sealed the second set with a clever drop shot and lob combination that left Fritz scrambling.
Fritz, the second seed, struggled to find rhythm on return and failed to convert any of his 10 break point opportunities. He won just 68% of his first serve points and looked flat throughout the contest.
The win makes Shelton the youngest American to reach a Masters 1000 final since Andy Roddick in 2004. It also improves his 2025 record to 26–1 on hard courts.
“It’s a special moment,” Shelton said in his post-match interview. “I’ve been working really hard to get to this stage, and I’m excited for the final.”
Shelton is seeking his third ATP Tour title, having previously won in Tokyo (2023) and Houston (2024).
Final Showdown: Shelton vs Khachanov
Shelton will face Russia’s Karen Khachanov in the championship match. Khachanov, seeded 11th, booked his spot earlier in the day with a 6–3, 4–6, 7–6(4) win over top-seeded Alexander Zverev.
Khachanov saved a match point and came back from 3–1 down in the third-set tiebreak to reach his second career Masters 1000 final. He won his first at the Paris Masters in 2018.
The final promises an intriguing contrast in styles—Khachanov’s raw power and baseline grinding versus Shelton’s explosive athleticism and aggressive serving.
With world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz absent from the tournament, the title is wide open.
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