At the National Bank Open (NBO) in Toronto, 11th-seeded Karen Khachanov pulled off a stunning upset by defeating top seed Alexander Zverev in a tough semifinal match. The match lasted over three hours and ended with a final score of 6–3, 4–6, and 7–6 (4). Khachanov’s victory is only the third of his career at this level and his first over a top-10 opponent in 2025.

Key Moments: Match Points Saved and Nerve-Wracking Tiebreak

The match-saving third-set tiebreak was when Khachanov’s comeback really got going. He didn’t give up at the last second. Instead, he turned the tide and won the game under pressure with five points in a row from 1–3.

Match Dynamics: A Super-Tight Encounter

First Set (6-3 to Khachanov): Khachanov capitalized on Zverev’s 11 unforced errors, breaking early and holding serve effectively.

Second Set (6–4 Zverev): Zverev recovered, winning the set and pushing the match into a third set that was decided.

Final Set & Tiebreak: Despite lengthy rallies and few break possibilities, both players held firm. Zverev’s expertise in the tiebreak was outlasted by Khachanov’s steadiness.

What This Means for Khachanov’s Career

A historic victory: Khachanov has already defeated Djokovic in 2018 and this is his third career victory against a top-3 player.

Mental toughness: Displayed remarkable resilience—particularly in high-pressure moments. After the game, he remarked, “It was a very demanding, very mental, very physical match.”

Final Ahead: With the victory, he advances to the Toronto final, where he will go against Taylor Fritz or Ben Shelton, both of them are enjoying strong runs.

Zverev’s Road Suddenly Blocked

Zverev was in excellent form going into the semifinals, having previously won his 500th ATP Tour title at this event, but he stumbled when it counted most.

Although he had recovered from past emotional and psychological setbacks, the match revealed his susceptibility to prolonged stress. The defeat puts an end to his impressive run in Toronto and necessitates a swift turnaround in order to get ready for Cincinnati and the US Open.

Tournament Outlook: Finals Set

Khachanov vs. Shelton: The final pits Khachanov against rising star Ben Shelton, who became the youngest American to reach a Masters 1000 final since Andy Roddick in 2004.

Historic implications: The final promises to be a high-stakes duel—experience versus youthful exuberance—and may set new narratives heading into the US Open.

Final Takeaways

Karen Khachanov’s gutsy victory over world No. 3 Zverev highlights his capacity to compete with the sport’s elite when it matters most.

His maturity goes beyond rankings or prior performance, as seen by his ability to alter momentum and save match points.

Khachanov is aiming for more than just a championship as he approaches the final; he is also reestablishing himself as a major player in tennis.

The rankings have been changed by the NBO semifinal, and the tennis community is anxious to see if Khachanov, the underdog, can win the title.