PREVIEW Canadian Open ATP Semi-Finals: Zverev vs Khachanov and Shelton vs Fritz face off in Toronto

After an entertaining 10 days in Toronto, we have gone from 128 players to four, ready to battle it out for Canadian Open glory. Alexander Zverev, Karen Khachanov, Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz have come out on top, eyeing up glory ahead of their semi-final matchups.

With the chance to compete in a Masters 1000 final, the pressure is on to find their best level and stand out in a supreme field of talent, but only two can qualify for the final.

First up tonight will be the 2017 Canadian Open winner Zverev taking on the number 11 seed Khachanov in a repeat of the 2021 Olympic gold medal match, in which the German returned victorious.

This is Zverev's first tournament since the opening round disappointment at Wimbledon, and got back to winning ways with a straight sets win over Adam Walton 7-6, 6-4 before the number one seed would come from behind to beat Italian Matteo Arnaldi 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2, which included Zverev winning the last four games of the match.

After a first-round exit in the doubles, he did well to find a way back into the first set against Francisco Cerundolo before the Argentine retired early in the second set. This extra rest would be key going into his quarter-final against last year's champion, Alexi Popryin.

In a closely fought first set, Zverev would fail to take two set points in the tie break, allowing the Aussie to punish him and take an early advantage. Zverev replied in a composed and mature fashion, breaking at the start of both the second and third set, and controlling the rest of it to win the tie 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-3 to reach his first Masters 1000 final of the year.

Khachanov has the chance to reach his second-ever 1000 final, following on from his success in Paris in 2018. He looks to be threatening his best level again after only dropping one set this tournament. He eased through his first game 6-4, 6-2 against qualifier Juan Pablo Ficovich, before defeating Emilio Nava 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-1.

He had a tough test on paper against the three-time Grand Slam finalist, Casper Ruud, but came out on top 6-4, 7-5 in an impressive victory for the Russian. Another straight-sets win would follow against American Alex Michelsen. The number 26 seed got the better start, breaking Khachanov's serve before the Russian won four consecutive legs to take command in the first set. In the second, both players found themselves 0-40 up, but failed to take any of the break points on offer. It would go to a tiebreak, in which Khachanov would breeze through to book his place in the semi-finals.

Despite an almost flawless run so far, this will be Khachanov's hardest game, with previous experience telling that story. Zverev is currently unbeaten against him in the last three matchups without dropping a set, which includes two previous 1000 events and the Olympic final. Zverev leads the head-to-head 5-2.

The pair are similar players, big servers who like to dominate from the baseline with powerful groundstrokes. Overall, Zverev is the more complete player of the two, but if Khachanov can find his top level, then he is going to have a great chance of reaching the final.

The second semi-final boasts the top two-ranked Americans. Now up to a career-high seventh in the world, Shelton has so far had a great 2025 and is now threatening his first 1000 final. He faces a very tough competitor in Fritz, who comes into the game not just the number four in the world but with two titles and a Wimbledon semi-final within the last two months.

The American number one overcame the disappointment of losing in the Washington semi-final against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina by beating a different Spaniard in his first game in Toronto, overcoming Roberto Carballes Baena 7-5, 7-6(1). He followed that up by beating home-favourite Gabriel Diallo 6-4, 6-2 in a dominant display.

He faced a different challenge in his next tie against Jiri Lehecka, a match which saw three tiebreaks without a break of serve. The American just did enough to squeeze through to the next round, winning 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 7-6(5). He had to play another tiebreak in his quarter-final against Andrey Rublev, but that was to seal his place in the semi-final after disposing of the Russian 6-3, 7-6(4).

Despite only having dropped one set, Fritz had to come through some tight matches, but having done so, proved that he will be tough to beat for the remainder of the tournament.

Shelton got his Canadian Open campaign underway with a 6-2, 6-3 win over qualifier Adrian Mannarino. He found himself behind against fellow American Brandon Nakashima but found a way back into it after a dominant second set, winning the match 6-7(8), 6-2, 7-6(5).

In another tight match, the 22-year-old was pushed all the way by young Italian Flavio Cobolli, but it was Shelton who overcame the world number 17, winning 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(1). This tie was overshadowed by a confrontation between the opponents at the net after the match. His toughest test was yet to come, with Alex de Minaur waiting for him in the quarter-finals. Shelton would utilise his big hitting to overcome the energetic Aussie 6-3, 6-4 in a statement win.

The pair have only met once, back in a round of 64 tie at Indian Wells, in which Fritz came out on top in three sets. Both are very attacking players with big serves, which will make it tough for any of them to claim control in the match.

Fritz still goes into the game with his recent form, but Shelton should not be counted out. The victory over de Minaur shows how far he has come this year, and that he can compete with the best players in the world. It is likely to be a close game, but the person who takes the opportunities on offer could put them through to a Masters 1000 final.