Ben Shelton vs. Karen Khachanov: Toronto final preview, and where to watch it

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Estimated start time: 7:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, August 7

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Ben Shelton vs. Karen Khachanov: Match Preview

With the ATP’s current Big 3—Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic—out of action this week, Toronto was always going to offer players from the second-tier a chance at a top-tier title. But it wasn’t going to be easy. The conditions in Canada—fast courts, fast balls—were a recipe for inconsistency and frustration, and we saw that from a lot of players. So it makes sense that the finalists, Shelton and Khachanov seem like the last two survivors on the island. Shelton won two of his matches 7-6 in the third set, and Khachanov did the same against Alexander Zverev in the semifinals on Wednesday night.

“When I came here I didn’t like the conditions,” Khachanov said with a laugh on Wednesday. “I can say it now. But that’s all about adjusting and adapting. I think tennis is all about that.”

For Shelton, the satisfaction comes from surviving the close ones.

“Finding a way to get through those tough matches where I’m down a break in the third, or the other guy’s serving for the match where I could be out of the tournament, those are the ones that are really special for me,” he said.

This will be Shelton’s first Masters 1000 final, and Khachanov’s second—his first was seven years ago. But their recent form makes their success here feel like less than a total surprise. They were both quarterfinalists at Wimbledon, and Shelton made the semis at the Citi Open two weeks ago. Each is 6-foot-4 or above, and each has the right game for a fast hard court in this day and age: Big serve, heavy topspin forehands, consistent two-handed backhands, an ability to attack and close at net.

They’ve played once before, earlier this year in Indian Wells, and Shelton won 6-3, 7-5. I’d say Khachanov is, or was, more solid from the baseline, but that day Shelton was the more creative player, and was one shot ahead of the Russian in the rallies.

Since then, the American has only improved, in virtually every area. Once upon a time, Shelton’s game looked like a serve and a prayer, but no more. In his last two matches, he has played guys who are normally steadier from the back court, Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz, but it was Shelton was won most of the protracted rallies. By the time he faced Fritz in the semis, Shelton was in the zone, and he played circles around his higher-ranked countryman.

“Playing back-to-back guys like Demon and Taylor, and having so much success in the long rallies like the stats showed, is a big confidence-builder for me,” Shelton said.

Shelton said he had everything “clicking” against Fritz. He looked that way for much of Wimbledon and D.C., but then the clicking stopped. Can the 22-year-old maintain his top level a little longer this time, and take the next step up by winning his first Masters 1000? The conditions, in his case, seem right. Winner: Shelton

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