Karen Khachanov rallied from 3-1 down in the final set tiebreaker to beat Alexander Zverev
Karen Khachanov delivered a dramatic performance at the National Bank Open in Toronto on Wednesday night. The 29-year-old Russian saved a match point and pulled off a gritty 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) win over top seed Alexander Zverev. With this victory, Khachanov has earned his place in the ATP Masters 1000 final for the second time in his career—seven years after his first.
A Long-Awaited Return to the Masters 1000 Final
Khachanov last reached a Masters 1000 final in 2018 at the Rolex Paris Masters, where he defeated Novak Djokovic. Now, he’s back in contention again—this time in Toronto—after a tense two-hour, 53-minute battle.
This win marks only his third career victory over a Top 3 player. Interestingly, all of those wins have come at the Masters 1000 level.
Nerve-Wracking Tie-Break Turns the Match
The decisive moment came in the third-set tie-break. Trailing 1/3, Khachanov stormed back with five straight points to take control. He eventually sealed the match, denying Zverev the chance to reach the final.
On match point, Zverev had a golden opportunity. Khachanov offered a soft second serve, but the German netted his reliable backhand. That one error made all the difference.
“Today was a real close one,” Khachanov said. “I was match point down—if that ball had clipped the net and fallen over, we wouldn’t be talking now.”
Error-Filled Duel Between Giants
The match was far from clean. Both players struggled with consistency and racked up unforced errors. According to Infosys ATP Stats, the duo committed a combined 78 unforced errors.
Khachanov hit 17 forehand errors, while Zverev made 22 on his usually dependable backhand. The German also hit seven double faults—repeating his error-prone serving display from the quarterfinals.
Despite the mistakes, Khachanov held his nerve at the key moments, showing grit and determination when it mattered most.
Zverev Reflects on Missed Chances
Zverev, the 2017 Toronto champion, was disappointed with his performance in the tie-break.
“I thought I was very brave… I just missed,” he admitted. “There are balls I wish I hadn’t missed, but that’s tennis. I’ll regroup for Cincinnati.”
Zverev’s run in Toronto ends in frustration, but he remains optimistic about his upcoming matches.
A Shot at Glory—and Turin
For Khachanov, the victory is not only a chance at another title but also a boost in the ATP Live Race to Turin. He has jumped ten spots this week, moving to 12th place.
He now edges closer to qualifying for the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals, set for November in Italy.
This run is particularly notable considering his slow start to the season. Khachanov had a 5-7 record on hard courts in the first three months of 2025.
Now, with momentum on his side, he heads into the final with confidence.
Who’s Next?
Khachanov will face the winner of the all-American semi-final between Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton. The final is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
Whoever his opponent, Khachanov will be looking to cap off a remarkable comeback with a trophy in hand.
