“I’ve seen so many big improvements in my game this week — that’s what I’m most happy about,” Shelton said after the win. “How I’m executing, how little I’m hesitating, how I’m returning. Beating two top-10 guys back-to-back is huge for me.”
Shelton, who already holds two ATP Tour titles — one on hard courts in Tokyo (2023) and another on clay in Houston (2024) — is chasing his third career trophy and his biggest yet. With explosive serving, confident shot-making, and fearless movement, he has surged through the draw with notable composure.
“I’m just really excited to see myself executing like this,” he added. “Not wondering if the shot is going to go in or out, but expecting it to go in.”
The semifinal started with a brief delay due to an issue with the electronic line-calling system, but once play got underway, it was all Shelton. Fritz, the second seed and a 10-time tour titlist, couldn’t match the pace and rhythm set by his younger compatriot. Despite a strong season that includes titles on grass in Stuttgart and Eastbourne, Fritz was unable to recover from an early break in each set.
Khachanov Outlasts Zverev in Thriller
Shelton’s final opponent will be 11th-seeded Karen Khachanov, who pulled off a nail-biting 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) victory over world No. 3 and top seed Alexander Zverev in the night’s first semifinal. The Russian saved a match point en route to the win, showing poise under pressure to advance to his second Masters 1000 final.
“Today was a real close one,” Khachanov said. “I was match-point down. If the ball touches the net and drops over, we wouldn’t be talking now.”
Khachanov, 28, is a seasoned campaigner with seven career titles, including a Masters 1000 win in Paris (2018). His baseline consistency and ability to raise his level in big moments were key in overcoming Zverev, the 2017 champion and owner of 24 ATP titles.
Zverev, who has enjoyed a resurgent 2025 season, lamented his sluggish start. “The first set was terrible,” he said. “I kind of gave him a headstart and he’s too good to not use that.”
A Final Without Sinner or Alcaraz
This year’s edition of the National Bank Open — an expanded ATP Masters 1000 hard-court event — has been wide open due to the absence of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, the 2023 champion, and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz. That paved the way for a fresh final featuring two players hungry for a breakthrough at the Masters level.
Shelton, the youngest American in the world’s top 20, will now have a chance to cap off a career-defining week with his first Masters 1000 crown. Khachanov, equally motivated, will be aiming to return to the winners’ circle at this level for the first time in seven years.
The final promises a clash of power, grit, and high-octane tennis — a fitting end to a dramatic week in Toronto.