The rise of Ben Shelton will hit new heights on Thursday in Toronto when he competes for his Maiden ATP Masters 1000 trophy at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers, but he will be confronted with a strict test of an already completed winner at that level, Karen Khanaov.
This will be the number 7 in the first appearance of the PIF ATP ranking in a final at this level, while Khahanov is back in the championship match in 2018 for the first time since the Triumph in Paris. Their collision is planned for not before 7:30 pm et/Friday, 1:30, 1:30 am CEST.
It’s going down in the 6IX ??@Nbotoronto | #NBO25 pic.twitter.com/hawwhpznno
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Shelton arrives in the final in red-hot form, after he defeated Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz to score back-to-back victories on the top 10 opponents for the first time in his career. After showing the variation to overwhelm the Minaur, the 22-year-old second seed fritz sent straight sets with his characteristic power, while also won 10 of 14 rallies that stretched to nine shots or more.
“Playing boys like Demon and Taylor, and having so much success in the long rallies is a great confidential builder for me,” said Shelton after beating Fritz. “Last night I did it with a little more slower, off-pace stuff. Today I had more of my higher, attacking tennis. I am really happy that I showed that, depending on who I play, I can do both.”
That ability to tactically adapt to or overwhelming the key to Shelton’s Run in Toronto, where he first cracked the quarterfinals at Masters 1000 level. But standing opposite the net is a player who has been proven for his references in these events.
Khachanov returns to a Masters 1000 final seven years after his breakthrough run in Paris, where he defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets. The Big-Hitting 29-year-old saved a match point to numb top seeds Alexander Zverev in the semi-final of Wednesday, finally the title match in Canada in Kraken after he fails in the last four in 2018 and 2019. He now has a 16-6 tournament record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, corresponding to his victory in Paris as his most successful Masters 1000 event.
View extensive highlights of the semi -final of Toronto:
“When I came here, I didn’t like the conditions,” said Khachanov with a smile. “I can say it now. But that is all about adjusting and adjusting. I think tennis is all about that. We play in different events every week. That is why many things are sometimes important for the results, so that’s why I think the question is about who adapts better.”
The ability of Khachanov to adjust can be seen completely during the tournament. His compact fluctuations of both wings, in particular his reliable backhand, have helped him to absorb pace and to effectively overthrow attacks. Against Shelton, which leads their Lexus ATP Head2head series 1-0, the experience of Khachanov and the Schottolerance will be vital in dealing with the firepower of the American and finding ways to expand rallies on its conditions.
Thursday’s title match will also have important implications in the PIF ATP ranking list. Shelton, who broke up the top 10 for the first time in June, would also rise to a career-high no. 6 with the title. Khachanov, who has already climbed four places this week to no. 12 in the live rankings, would return to his career-best no. 8-one function that he last held in 2019-as he lifted his eighth ATP Tour-Trophy.
Shelton won their last meeting in Straight Sets in Indian Wells, but Khahanov will be hungry for the chance to join the Circle of the Masters 1000 winner and confirm his return to Elite form. Both players look for their first title of 2025.
Anyway, a new chapter will be written in Toronto, a chapter that could form the rest of the season for both men, because they want to debut at the Nitto ATP Finals. Shelton is fifth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, while Khachanov is 12th and would jump to 10th place with a victory.
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