Russia\u2019s Karen Khachanov<\/a>, perhaps the most underrated player on the ATP Tour, didn\u2019t need to be asked twice, as he stepped up to the plate.<\/p>\n Taking down the likes of Alex Michelsen and Casper Ruud, the 2018 Paris Masters champion advanced to the semifinals, where he took on Germany\u2019s Alexander Zverev<\/a>.<\/p>\n In three sets, Khachanov defeated Zverev<\/a> 6-3, 4-6, 7-6, picking up his highest-ranked win in two years.<\/p>\n Moving on to the final, the 29-year-old narrowly missed out on the title, as Khachanov lost to Ben Shelton<\/a> in a deciding-set tiebreaker, 7-6 [7-5], 4-6, 6-7, [3-7].<\/p>\n Comparing the efforts of Shelton and Zverev during his post-match press conference, Khachanov highlighted the key difference between the two top-ten players.<\/p>\n Karen Khachanov says Ben Shelton was serving like \u2018crazy\u2019 compared to Alexander Zverev<\/p>\n After the match, Khachanov was asked to reflect on the deciding-set tiebreakers in the semifinals and final, as he compared his two opponents.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, it\u2019s two different players. Two different players, two different matches,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s true that Sascha [Alexander Zverev] is also a big server, but in the tiebreaker, he didn\u2019t put too many first serves in. So that was already different, because the balls were more in play, so it was more about the rallies.<\/p>\n \u201cI would say the same about today [vs Ben Shelton], that if there would be rallies, maybe I was dominating and getting more of the rallies in my hand, that\u2019s the feeling, at least I had.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBut then he served it out like crazy. I mean, he put all the serves in, made aces.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I give all the credit to him to kind of step up and, let\u2019s say, get this win, in the tiebreaker I mean especially, you know.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not about only my offense. Let\u2019s say, I didn\u2019t have a chance to be in the offense, you know, first you need to return. So he really served it out. I would say that was the difference in the tiebreaker.\u201d<\/p>\n Shelton\u2019s serve was impeccable in the third-set tiebreaker, making several aces to take his match tally to 16.<\/p>\n PlayerAcesDouble faults1st Serve %Win % on 1st ServeWin % on 2nd ServeService points wonBen Shelton16664%80%70%78Karen Khachanov3263%72%74%72Serving stats from Karen Khachanov v Ben Shelton<\/p>\n![\"Karen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2228578697-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Matthew Stockman\/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2228003556-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Mert Alper Dervis\/Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n
![\"Karen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2228249002-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Mert Alper Dervis\/Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n