In a dazzling display of power and precision, Taylor Fritz, the world No. 4 and second seed, stormed into the semifinals of the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto, defeating sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev 6-3, 7-6(4) on Tuesday night. The American’s masterful performance at Sobeys Stadium, marked by 20 aces and a steely resolve in a second-set tiebreaker, underscored his status as one of the ATP Tour’s most formidable players. This victory, Fritz’s seventh Masters 1000 semifinal and second of the 2025 season, sets up an all-American clash with Ben Shelton, marking the first such semifinal in an ATP Masters 1000 event since 2010. As Fritz eyes his 11th ATP Tour title and second Masters 1000 crown, his Toronto run signals a player peaking at the perfect time ahead of the U.S. Open.
Fritz came out firing under hazy, breezy conditions, blasting three aces in the opening game to set the tone. He broke Rublev in the second game, capitalizing on a backhand down-the-line winner to surge to a 2-0 lead. “It was clean,” Fritz said of his performance, radiating confidence after a match where he dominated with 34 service winners and 29 total winners against just 21 unforced errors. The first set was a clinic in serving prowess, with Fritz holding at 30 in the ninth game to seal it 6-3 in just 31 minutes. His ability to tame his strokes, hitting with precision and power, left Rublev struggling to find answers in shorter rallies, despite the Russian’s edge in extended exchanges.
The second set saw both players elevate their game, with no break points in the first eight games. Fritz, however, seized a critical break at 4-4, only to face a rare lapse when serving for the match at 5-4. “That whole game was so shaky for me,” Fritz reflected, admitting the pressure of closing out the match caught him off guard. Rublev, the 2024 Toronto finalist, capitalized with a break to level the set, forcing a tiebreaker. Undeterred, Fritz regained his composure, securing a mini-break early in the tiebreak with a deep return and forcing errors from Rublev. A routine forehand error from the Russian handed Fritz a match point, which he converted with his 20th ace, securing a hard-fought 7-6(4) victory after 82 minutes.
Rublev, ranked No. 11, acknowledged Fritz’s dominance, noting, “He’s one of the best players,” and praising his recent Wimbledon semifinal run against Carlos Alcaraz. Despite the loss, Rublev’s Toronto campaign, which included a 250th career hard-court win against Hugo Gaston and a gritty victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, offered positives. “I don’t think Andrey was expected to beat Fritz on hard court,” a fan observed online, highlighting Fritz’s 5-2 hard-court lead in their head-to-head, now 6-4 overall. Rublev lamented the fast conditions, saying, “With these conditions there is not much tennis… here there is no tennis at all,” reflecting on the serve-dominated match that limited extended rallies.
Fritz’s path to the semifinals was no fluke. His 36-13 record in 2025, bolstered by titles in Australia, Stuttgart, and Eastbourne, reflects a player in top form. His Toronto run, including a straight-sets win over Gabriel Diallo and a three-tiebreaker thriller against Jiri Lehecka, marks him as the 11th player to reach the quarterfinals of all nine ATP Masters 1000 events. Against Lehecka, Fritz saved all nine break points, showcasing the clutch mentality that carried him through against Rublev. “Taylor served for a straightforward 6-3 6-4 win but got broken back with some tight errors,” a post on X noted, praising his mental reset in the tiebreaker.
The all-American semifinal against Shelton, who defeated Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4, promises fireworks. “He’s a big-match player,” Shelton said of Fritz, noting their friendship and Fritz’s role as a flag-bearer for American tennis. Fritz, who holds a 1-0 head-to-head edge from their 2023 Indian Wells clash, faces a stern test against the 22-year-old’s explosive game. The other semifinal pits top seed Alexander Zverev against Karen Khachanov, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the expanded two-week, $9.19 million hard-court event.
Fritz’s journey comes after a stellar yet heartbreak-filled 2024, with a U.S. Open final loss to Jannik Sinner and a Wimbledon semifinal defeat to Alcaraz. With top players like Sinner, Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Jack Draper absent from Toronto, Fritz has seized the opportunity to shine. His 95% service hold rate and 14-of-16 break points saved in the tournament highlight his dominance. As he aims to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick in 2003, a deep run in Toronto could propel him toward that goal. With the final set for Thursday, Fritz’s blend of firepower and composure makes him a formidable contender, ready to carry American hopes into the U.S. Open.
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