For the fifth year in a row, a new men’s champion will be crowned at the National Bank Open, ATP Toronto. American No. 2 Ben Shelton will compete in his first Masters final. Karen Khachanov has triumphed at this level in the past when he won the 2018 Paris Masters. Will the Russian’s previous success help him bag a second Masters title, or will Shelton land his first?
ATP Toronto Final Prediction
Ben Shelton vs Karen Khachanov
Head-to-head: Shelton 1-0 Khachanov
Ben Shelton won the all-American semifinal clash against second seed Taylor Fritz in straight sets to reach his first Masters 1000 final. Three years since his breathtaking debut in this tournament category in Cincinnati, Shelton can seize the moment to win the biggest title of his career. His two ATP titles have come at the 250 and 500 level. In a tournament that was already depleted of massive star power with the absences of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic, it is 22-year-old Shelton who has taken that advantage in his half of the draw. But it would be an understatement to call this a straightforward path to the final. Shelton’s only routine win during the fortnight was in his opening match against Adrian Mannarino. He clawed his way from an early break deficit in the third set against Brandon Nakashima and then won a chaotic last-16 match against Flavio Cobolli. Perhaps his best level was on show in the quarterfinal, where Shelton outsmarted Alex de Minaur in straight sets.
It’s seven years between Karen Khachanov’s first and second Masters final. The Russian famously defeated an in-form Novak Djokovic in Paris-Bercy in 2018. It took him at least another five years before he lifted another ATP title. Khachanov’s week has also been marked with a couple of close matches that could have easily slipped away. And the most notable of those was in the semifinal, where he saved a match point to knock out top seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 4-6 7-6 in almost three hours.
It’s a final between two explosive hitters on tour, and while there is little to choose between them, Shelton has proven multiple times in this tournament to be the ultimate problem solver. What will also help the American is the layers he’s added to his game and not being fully reliant on his serve. His willingness to mix it up might just tip the scales in his favor.
Prediction: Shelton in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports