The Canadian Open final on August 7, 2025, will feature a clash between fourth seed Ben Shelton and 11th seed Karen Khachanov at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, Canada. This ATP Masters 1000 event on a hard court offers a prize pool of $9,193,540, with the match broadcast live on Tennis Channel and TC Plus in the USA, Sky Sports in the UK, and Sportsnet and TVA in Canada.
Road to the Final: Performance Recap of Shelton and Khachanov
Ben Shelton’s journey to the final involved a smooth opening victory over Adrian Mannarino, followed by a challenging three-set battle against 25th seed Brandon Nakashima and 13th seed Flavio Cobolli. He then delivered a commanding 6-3, 6-4 win against ninth seed Alex de Minaur. In the semifinals, Shelton faced second seed Taylor Fritz, another American. After a cautious start with both players failing to convert break points early on, Shelton secured a crucial break in the ninth game to take the first set. He maintained control by breaking Fritz twice in the second set, finishing with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Karen Khachanov advanced after victories over Juan Pablo Ficovich, Emilio Nava, eighth seed Casper Ruud, and 26th seed Alex Michelsen. He faced top seed Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. The match was intense, with each player winning one of the first two sets by breaking serve once. The third set remained locked until Zverev earned a match point on Khachanov’s serve in the 12th game but failed to convert it. Khachanov then captured the tiebreak 7-4, clinching the 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (4) win to reach the final.
Head-to-Head Statistics Before the Final
Ben Shelton leads the head-to-head record against Karen Khachanov 1-0. Their only previous meeting took place earlier this year at the Indian Wells Masters 2025, where Shelton won in straight sets.
Expectations and Predictions for the Final Showdown
Shelton has demonstrated peak form in the past two rounds, boosting his chances to claim his first Masters 1000 title. Notably, prior to this tournament, Shelton had never beaten a top 10 player in five attempts but has now defeated two consecutively at this event. His semifinal performance, where he did not lose serve, winning 86 percent of first-serve points and producing 21 winners despite 27 unforced errors, underscores his solid play.
Khachanov’s path to the final highlights his resilience, especially in the semifinals where he overcame match point against top-seeded Zverev. He won 73 percent of his first-serve points and registered 29 winners alongside 34 unforced errors. This victory marked his first win over a top 10 opponent this year and his second Masters final appearance, his last being the 2018 Paris Masters, which he won.
Both players have suffered seven hard-court losses this year, but Shelton outpaces Khachanov with 18 wins compared to Khachanov’s 10, suggesting an edge for the American. Shelton’s steady improvements this season position him well for a decisive victory in Toronto. Given their previous meeting and current momentum, Ben Shelton is favored to win the Canadian Open final in straight sets.