Americans Shelton, Fritz Reach Toronto Masters 1000 Semifinals

Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton both advanced to the semifinals of the National Bank Open in Toronto, setting up the first all-American ATP Masters 1000 semifinal in 15 years. Shelton, a 22-year-old rising star, defeated world No. 8 Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4, showcasing a strong serve with 11 aces and a solid baseline game. Fritz, seeded second and ranked fourth on the ATP Tour, bested No. 6 Andrey Rublev 6-3, 7-6 (4), hitting 20 aces and holding firm in a tight second-set tiebreak. This will be only their second career meeting, with Fritz having won their previous encounter in 2023. Both players demonstrated resilience and strong serving throughout the tournament, with Fritz seeking his second Masters 1000 title and Shelton reaching his first semifinal at this level. The other semifinal features top-seeded Alexander Zverev against Karen Khachanov, with the final scheduled for Thursday.