By Jill Millman
First Time Masters 1000 finalist, and no. 4 Seed American Ben Shelton is on No. 11 Seed Karen Khahanov, in what will certainly be a fierce battle for explosive foundations, Scorching Serves and Robual Defense. In the epic semi-final of last night, hold your breath, the best of the tournament match, Khachanov region of the region of top seeding Alexander Zverev in a three-set thriller. It was really someone’s match, because they were very evenly linked to each other during the intense two -hour and 53 -minute match. A third set of Tie breaker would be won by the player who had fewer casual mistakes in the last few points. That turned out to be Khachanov. He will now step on the field in search of his second Masters 1000 title, while 22-year-old Ben Shelton will get on the field in his Masters 1000 Final Debut. How did Shelton confirm its place in the final? He defeated fellow American Taylor Fritz in straight sets in a dominant display.
If you wonder if there are nerves to start the game, don’t ask anymore. There are none. You would think that Shelton would come out of the gate a little nervous because it is his first Masters 1000 -final. I didn’t think so. No. That’s my story and I stay with it. Shelton kicked things off with a 40-0 match to start the game, including two blazing aces. Khachanov followed the example with his own relatively easy guard. Now that they are both sitting, we let us also warm ourselves and settle for a hairpier. And I’m not talking about the curls of Shelton.
It all remained all because of three games when it suddenly became a bit hairy on the Shelton service game. Ok, no more words of words. Shelton serves at a break point and does what he does best and gets it back to disgrace a sizzling serve, causing Khachanov to get back into the net. Khachanov got another breaking point in that game and converted on the second. The first break of the game goes to Khachanov who is about to serve at 4-3. The important test is now to keep the Pause of Serve. Do you want to use some guesses if he did?
On 30-30 with Khachanov who served at 4 games for 3, the crowd suddenly broke out in raw cheers and applause, because it was shown on the screen that Toronto’s own 18-year-old Victoria Mboko was just naomi Osaka in three sets to win her first Carrière Treat in Month-Lee. What followed that successive display of excitement was a 15 plus baseline rally in which Shelton became the victor. In the end, Khachanov eventually gave his break of Serve for a 5-3 lead in the first.
Shelton held his service game and Khachanov now serves 5-4 to grasp the first set. The score is now 30 all. Wait a minute, make that breaking point now for Shelton. The crowd gets loud. Shelton eventually breaks back with not one, but two lets on the same point. Khachanov, unnecessary to say, was not so happy with that result and lobed a ball from his Racquet Superhigh in the air after losing that match.
Khachanov serves on 5-6 and now Shelton has two set points after he has beaten his Forehand Cross Court for the final winner. In the end he put both points set up and now we are at Deuce. Another blistered forehand through Shelton gets him a different set point.
A Hold-Your-Breath 18 Shot-Rally went in favor of Khachanov and we go back to Deuce. He manages to keep it and now a tie -graker is about to determine the first set. Would we have it in a different way?
We are now with a first mini break in the Tiebreaker who goes to Shelton. It serves 4-3. Make that 5-3. Could this tiebreaker get closer? It is now 5-5 with Khachanov. This changes in the battle for the Forehands. Khachanov has set the Serve of Shelton. The first set goes to Khachanov at 7-5 in the Tiebreaker. That was a real nail biter. Are we still working on a three-set thriller?
The second set was a bit of Topsy Turvy, but that was mainly with the electronic line that did not work with 2 games everything and 15-all. Slight delay with both players on the net speaking with the chair referee, but everything seems okay now. We are currently at Deuce with Shelton who serves 2 games for 3. You can see that the tensions on the field are high. Shelton ended with the spacious and we are all tied up at 3.
Khachanov serves on 4-4, but Shelton has just secured a double breaking point at 15-40. He didn’t need this. First break in the second set goes to Shelton.
It is now about to bind this match to one set each.
It is a sloppy service game from Shelton while he serves for the second set. He is now 0-40 with three breaking points to Khachanov. Let’s see if his powerful Serve can let him avoid. He has now saved two breaking points. Make those three. We are all even at 40-40. Khachanov gives a different breaking point back an expensive double mistake. And it is quickly deleted with a shelton serve bomb. And we are all tied up. Shelton wins set number two in a game filled with an energetic way.
Khachanov starts the third set by first serving, which is always a small advantage.
Both men cruise in holding in this last set. We all come to the wire bound at 4 games. Khachanov continues to keep his service games and it is now a must for Shelton that serves at 4 games for 5.
Similar service game again with Shelton that serves to stay at 6 races at 6. He hopes to send this to a last set of Tie-Breaker. This match is terribly reminiscent of the last match of Khachanov against Zverev who also ended in a third set of Tie-Breaker. It is only appropriate that this last competition is going to distance. Shelton is already on with a mini break. Who plays the cleaner tiebraker? This is definitely a lead on your seat. Shelton is now 5 points on 2 to 2 with the help of his state-of-the-art power serve.
A screaming Forehand winner brings him to 6-2. Four championship points play for Shelton. Wait a minute. Now it’s 6-3. But it is now championship point on the Racket of Shelton. And it’s done. He did it. He just won his very first Masters 1000 title in a very fierce battle with incredible competition on both sides of the net. A master class of two hours and 47 minutes. Undoubtedly, these two enormously talented players will meet each other many times in the future with many big moments.
In his press conference after the game, Khachanov was asked how he would summarize his experience in Toronto. He replied: “You want to succeed, but especially in the last match of the tournament, to lift the trophy. Absolutely still a positive, great tournament, great run. I had some great fights, great victories against top boys. So that’s why I give myself the honor.”
In Shelton’s on Court Post Title victory he shared this feeling: “Not many people in life can experience things and the joy I feel today is not just because of the victory, but it is because of the people I spend every day. The people I love and the people love me.”
In his interview after the match press conference he was asked how he felt about his two weeks here in the tournament, to which he answered: “I am really grateful for the chance. I have the feeling that this week it was a perfect storm for me. Many tight matches, long matches, played some of the best tennis I played this year.”
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