Karen Khachanov is into another Masters 1000 final, having upset the top seed Alexander Zverev just last night.
In what was a battle between two hard-hitting, big-serving stars, it was the Russian who came out on top, setting up a mouth-watering clash with Ben Shelton in Friday’s final.
There we will be guaranteed a new champion not just at this event, but at the Masters 1000 level. One of these two top talents will be set to win, or equal, the biggest title of their career.
Before that, Khachanov was keen to review what was a really impressive victory over Alexander Zverev, one that few would have expected.
However, he has since pointed out the two crucial points in the match that he felt tipped the clash in his favour.
Karen Khachanov on what he noticed Alexander Zverev did mid-match
Speaking with the Canadian Open press after the match, he began by offering his general overview of the match.
Khachanov began by admitting: “Yeah, definitely feels good. But, I mean, there is always some stats, you know, that could be, whatever, about the Masters 1000s or 500s, you know, or Grand Slam. So, I don’t put too much attention to that, to be honest.
“As a matter of fact, you know, having a great run so far, having another opportunity to play the final in this big event. So, yeah, super happy, super proud to do it once again.
“You know, even though it’s been quite a few years, but at the same time during this period of time I achieved some other great results in the Grand Slams, or the other achievements, so that’s why.”
Then asked about the second-set tiebreaker specifically and what he felt made the difference, he delved into the vital moments: “You know, when you come to this point, I would say both players deserve to win, you know, him and myself. I cannot tell you what was the difference. In a way that, you know, whoever puts more balls inside the court, or maybe makes more winners, less unforced errors, it’s always a question of what do you do in those important moments when it counts.
“So I would say actually I was down 3-1, then I came back to 3-All. Then, it seems he made two unforced errors. But again, maybe I put a little bit more pressure, he got a little bit more nervous, more tight. So, this is how you play in those moments. You try to bring your A-game, and you can win, you can lose, but it is what it is.”
Karen Khachanov and Ben Shelton’s Canadian Open final motivations
With Ben Shelton seeking to follow in Jannik Sinner’s footsteps in Toronto, Khachanov’s mission has a different purpose.
After all, while the young American is seeking a springboard that could catapult his young career to new heights, the 29-year-old is instead looking to consolidate what has already been a rock-solid period on tour.
With seven ATP titles to his name and a further two finals reached, Khachanov has enjoyed a long and successful career.
Not to mention that he also boasts plenty of wins over top-ten opposition, with Zverev the latest alongside stars like Daniil Medvedev, Dominic Thiem and Novak Djokovic in the final of the Masters 1000 event in Paris back in 2018.
Ben Shelton, meanwhile, seeks out his first triumph at this level, and as noted earlier, will hope to use the Canadian Open as a foundation for future successes just like Sinner did.
