Karen Khachanov pulled off a sensational comeback to reach the final of the ATP Toronto Masters, defeating world number three and top seed Alexander Zverev in a dramatic semi-final encounter. The Russian 11th seed showcased resilience and nerves of steel as he rallied from 3-1 down in the final-set tiebreak to secure a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) victory on Wednesday.
This will be Khachanov’s 11th career ATP final and his first of the 2025 season, after previously falling short in the semi-finals at both Barcelona and Halle. He is now set to face either Taylor Fritz or Ben Shelton, whose all-American semi-final was delayed due to technical issues with the electronic line-calling system. The match was paused before it even began, with players sent off court and no clear timeline for resumption provided at the time.
Khachanov, who had never previously reached the final in Canada, saved a match point at 5-6 in the third set, capitalizing on a costly error from Zverev who struck a backhand into the net. The match lasted nearly three hours and featured high-quality tennis marked by endurance and mental fortitude.
Zverev, despite his strong season, was uncharacteristically error-prone with 44 unforced errors. Khachanov managed 29 winners alongside 34 unforced errors, maintaining better control in key moments of the match.
Reflecting on his gritty win, Khachanov said, “I had to work out this match, dig deep and try my best. It was very demanding physically and mentally. We’ve had a lot of matches and I’m happy to beat him after losing some easy ones.”
As for the match point situation, he added, “When you reach the final tiebreak, you have to play your best. You can’t waste time and energy with negative thoughts or you won’t succeed. You never know what will happen but you have to give it a try.” Khachanov dominated the first set with an early break and held his lead, while Zverev found his rhythm in the second, winning the last eight points to level the match. But it was Khachanov’s grit and belief in the decisive moments that ultimately sealed the victory. The Toronto final now awaits a new champion, and Khachanov has placed himself right in the spotlight with a performance that might just redefine his season.
