Toronto, Canada – US second seed Taylor Fritz battled through a late-match hiccup on Tuesday to defeat Andrey Rublev 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), securing his spot in the ATP Toronto Masters semifinals. He will now face fellow American and fourth seed Ben Shelton, who impressively overcame Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4, setting up the first all-American ATP Masters 1000 semifinal in 15 years.
Fritz Overcomes Nerves to Reach Fifth Semifinal
Fritz’s path to his fifth semifinal of the 2025 season and first at this Masters 1000 level in Canada was not without drama. Serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set, the Californian admitted to a “brain freeze,” losing his serve after saving three break points, allowing Rublev to level at 5-all. However, Fritz quickly regained his composure, ultimately closing out the 83-minute match 15 minutes later in the second-set tiebreaker with a decisive serve winner.
The world No. 4 showcased his dominant serve throughout the match, firing a personal-best 20 aces (for a two-set match) among his 29 winners, improving his head-to-head record against Rublev to 6-4. This victory continues Fritz’s strong 2025 season, in which he has won 19 of his last 22 matches, including a run to the Wimbledon semifinals.
Shelton Breaks Through for Maiden Masters Semifinal
Ben Shelton, the 22-year-old American, also delivered a stellar performance, reaching his maiden ATP Masters 1000 semifinal on his fourth attempt. He ended Australian Alex de Minaur’s impressive seven-match winning streak, which included de Minaur’s recent title win in Washington.
Shelton’s powerful game was on full display, as he laid down 11 aces in his 91-minute victory. He particularly dominated in longer rallies, winning 12-7 in exchanges of nine or more shots, showcasing an evolving baseline game beyond just his serve. Shelton created three match points with his final ace and converted on the first opportunity to secure the win.
An All-American Clash Awaits
The upcoming semifinal between Fritz and Shelton marks a significant moment for American tennis, being the first all-American Masters 1000 semifinal in 15 years. Fritz, ranked fourth, will be looking for his 11th ATP Tour title and second Masters 1000 crown, while Shelton, ranked seventh, aims for his first Masters 1000 final. Their only previous Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting was in Indian Wells in 2023, where Fritz won.
The winner of this highly anticipated match will advance to the final on Thursday, where they will face either top seed Alexander Zverev or Karen Khachanov.
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