Second-seeded Taylor Fritz secured a spot in the semifinals of the National Bank Open on Tuesday in Toronto, defeating sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev 6-3, 7-6 (4). The match marked a test for Fritz, who faced a rare serving lapse but managed to hold his nerve and close out the victory.
Fritz’s upcoming opponent will be the fourth seed and fellow American Ben Shelton, who earned a 6-3, 6-4 win over Australia’s ninth-seeded Alex de Minaur later that night.
Service Struggles Amid Strong Overall Performance
Fritz’s streak of 41 consecutive service holds dating back to his opening match in Toronto ended during a tense moment at 5-4 in the second set when he failed to convert a match point. Rublev capitalized on this lapse by breaking serve. However, Fritz regained focus and dominated the tiebreaker, winning all points on his serve to secure the match.
“That whole game was so shaky for me,”
Fritz reflected on his lost serve.
“It’s weird because he was holding easy, I was holding easy. It felt so like calm and chill and all of a sudden I’m serving to be in the semis, the pressure of the game came out of nowhere.”
He added,
“There’s no way to sugarcoat it, it was a tight game. My brain kind of turned off. The only thing you can do is come back and win the set. I would be a lot more upset about what happened in the game if I lose the match. Winning makes it feel not as bad.”
—Taylor Fritz, player
Throughout the match, Fritz held a commanding 20-6 ace advantage and converted both of his break point opportunities.
Ben Shelton Shines in Quarterfinals
Ben Shelton demonstrated strong serving skills against Alex de Minaur, finishing with 11 more aces. Early in the match, Shelton earned a critical service break to lead 4-2 in the first set. Although de Minaur managed a break, Shelton responded by taking two more breaks back, which helped him control the final stages of the match. He allowed no more than one point against his serve in the last three games, sealing his victory firmly.
Head-to-Head and Upcoming Semifinal Matchups
Fritz, 27, and Shelton, 22, will meet for only the second time in their careers. Fritz triumphed in their previous meeting at Indian Wells earlier this year, winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a round-of-64 encounter. This upcoming semifinal in Toronto promises a high-stakes contest between two rising American talents.
Meanwhile, the other semifinal scheduled for Wednesday will feature Germany’s top seed Alexander Zverev against Russia’s 11th seed Karen Khachanov, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament.
Implications for the National Bank Open
Fritz’s progression marks another step toward his bid for a third title in 2023, following wins in Stuttgart and Eastbourne earlier this year. The tense moments in his match against Rublev highlight the mental challenges players face under pressure, even after strong early performance streaks. For Shelton, this semifinal appearance represents a significant milestone as he continues to establish himself on the ATP Tour.
The clash between Fritz and Shelton will be a pivotal moment in the National Bank Open, reflecting the continuing rise of American players in this major event.