Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov, Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz Dazzle Under Sobeys Stadium Lights in Toronto – World Tennis Magazine

By Jill Millman

Under the lights in the midfield in the Sobeys Stadium, no. 1 Seed Alexander Zverev started the first of two semi -final games against no. 11 Seed Karen Khahanov at the National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada. Only two nights ago, Zverev title defender Alexei Pofyrin defeated in a tight match with three set to continue to his 21st Masters 1000 semi -final and his 75th semi -final at Tour level. Zverev won his second Masters 1000 crown on the NBO in 2017 and beat the All-Time Great Roger Federer in the final, but has not reached a semi-final in Canada since then.

Tonight’s game leads Zverev 5-2 in his seven head-to-head matches against Khachanov. He has won their last three games played, but Khachanov has not dropped a set in this tournament since the second round. Khachanov earned his place in the semi -final after beating No. 26 Seed, American Alex Michelsen in two sets. This marks its third time in the semi -final after reaching this phase in 2018 and 2019.

The heavy ground sticks were at a record high in the first set of this semi -final. Khachanov came out of the gate, which took a strong early break, and Zverev did not seem to be back. He ran into a sign with the name Khachanov. Each point was a fight between these two exceptionally long (both standing on 6’6 ”) Baseline Power Hitters. Khahanov maintained his only break of serve during the first set with steady ground regions and solid ministry. He was 40-15 on 5-3, and although he did not chose it on his two set points of a service.

The second set was more of a level playing field with both men who serve through four games. These points were blinking and you miss it to scream back and forth for forehands. I can confirm that. I blinked a few times and indeed missed a few winners.

Zverev served on 4-4 and threw a double error on the first point. I can guarantee that this was not the way he wanted to start this crucial game. But that was only a small blip when he finished with a strong guard for a 5-4 lead. A sevensaktrally started the 4-5 service game for Khachanov with a Forehand Cross-Court winner by Zverev. He followed that up with a volley winner to take a 0-30 lead. Another screamer from a Forehand winner for Triple Set Point. Can you guess what happened afterwards? Zverev broke with love. One set a piece, people! This will be good. A third and last crucial set is underway.

The third set started on serve and thus continued in two games to two with a tense score from Deuce on Zverev’s Serve. A double error at 40-40 gave Khachanov a breaking point, but a beauty of a volley of Zverev at Het Net saved the breaker. He gave this must win game for a 3-2 lead. Let’s face it, they all have to be led in the third set on this point. Who will flash first? We were still all even through four games with Zverev who eventually gave a 5-4 lead. Meer from “behind” is always a challenge, especially in a third and final set. It was a tense 40-40 score at 4 games up to 5 in the last set, but Khachanov was up to the task, evening it out at five games. Zverev stuck to go to 5 games to 5 and even had a match point at 30-40 on the Serve of Khachanov, but could not take advantage of it. We go to a final set of tie-breaker. Have we even doubted that this is how it would end? Khachanov flashed first and Zverev took the first mini break in the Tie-Breaker. This is a master class in the ball that stands out. They are both very evenly tailored and neither of them is back. This is really someone’s game. I will not even take a gamble right now. Time has come. Match Point for Khachanov who serves up to 3 on 6 points. Make those 6 points to 4, with 2 more match points. A zverev -unauthorized error in the net on a flowering first serve by Khachanov it was good. He just stamped his ticket to the final.

After the game, Zverev noted that he did not feel his best on the field. “… my best tennis didn’t play. The first set was also terrible, so I gave him a bit a lead, and he is too good not to use that.” He now looks at Cincinnati in a few days, where he hopes for a better result.

When asked what the difference was in the tiebreaker to secure the victory, Khachanov stated: “I would say that both players deserve to win, you know, he and myself.

Whatever he did at those big important moments, it worked. He is now going to his second Masters 1000 -final.

The second semifinal, and what will certainly be another exciting battle, contains no. 4 seed Ben Shelton vs no. 2 Seed Taylor Fritz. This is the first all-American semi-final in A Masters 1000 Since Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish Faced at the Cincinnati Open in 2010. With an imposing win in less than 90 minutes about World No. 8 Alex de Minauraur in the Quarterfinals, 22 Year Old Shelton Captured his Masters 1000 Semi-Final, While 27 Year Old Taylor Fritz Reached His 7th Career Masters 1000 Semi-Final After Powering Fits Andrey Robev in two sets. Fritz currently has an impressive 19-3 record since the beginning of June, and with his victory over Rublev he claimed his 20th hard win of the season. This match-up between Fritz and Shelton is only the 2nd time that these two have played each other, with Fritz won their only earlier meeting in 2023 at Indian Wells Masters. During that meeting, Shelton took the first set against Fritz, before the Tournament Tournament completed a comeback victory in three sets at the time.

These two heavyweights came out strongly to start the first set, which swung hard and completely. After a late start of the 2nd semi-final because of the Zverev/Khachanov match that lasted almost 3 hours, plus a slight delay due to technical difficulties with the electronic line group, there was no pauses from serve place to 3, but there was a strong potential of an early break that served on 1-1 when he was a driplesy. He fought hard to hold on to a number of great defense and booming serves. They were all even up to and including 4 with Fritz who served, until Shelton unleashed a sizzling Forehand critman that made Fritz made a casual mistake, and Shelton got his breaking point opportunity. A faster than the speed of the winner of the light forehand by Shelton at 30-40 caused the break. It was then smooth sailing when Shelton held his serve and took the first set 6-4.

The 2nd set was already reminiscent of the first, where Shelton made an early break of Serve on 2-2. The way in which Shelton serves and hits the ball can be difficult for Fritz to even record this competition. But Fritz has many weapons in his arsenal, and it is still early in the 2nd set, so let’s see how this is happening. Shelton is currently out of service and is playing him right now, and with his SWAG and trust in the field it will be a tough battle for Fritz.

With Fritz now at 3 games up to 5, he received a fast 0-40, so that Triple Match Point for Shelton was secured. Fritz received a breaking point back for 15-40 and then double error, which gave the victory to Shelton. The game quickly came away from Fritz, and after he followed double, resulting in the loss, he continued with his racket in two about his thigh. Understandable because this was not at all the result he expected.

Shelton will only come face to face with Khachanov the second time in his career, where their previous meeting took place earlier this year in Indian Wells, where Shelton drove past Khahahanov to win in two sets. Shelton is now the first time that Masters should provide 1000 finalist for a very exciting game.

After his match, Shelton was asked what his game plan was for tonight. He replied: “I think it was for me to keep him moving, to keep him out of balance. The way I play, but play within my limits and really solid.”