Taylor Fritz powered his way into the semifinals of the National Bank Open with a decisive victory over Andrey Rublev, winning 6-3, 7-6 (4) at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto. The hard-serving American, seeded second in the tournament, showcased his strength and precision with an impressive 20 aces during the match.
Fritz’s next challenge will be against the winner of the quarterfinal match between fourth-seeded Ben Shelton and ninth-seeded Alex de Minaur. In the other semifinal, top-seed Alexander Zverev, a previous champion of this tournament, faces off against No. 11 Karen Khachanov.
During the match, Fritz dominated from the start, breaking Rublev early and maintaining control throughout the first set. Despite a fierce competition in the second set, where both players traded breaks, Fritz proved too strong, ultimately clinching the match in a tiebreak.
Fritz is currently ranked fourth in the ATP Tour standings and is aiming for his 11th ATP Tour title, as well as his second Masters 1000 crown. He previously experienced disappointment after losing to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the 2024 U.S. Open final and to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon semifinals.
Rublev, ranked No. 11, came into the match after a strong showing in prior tournaments, including the fourth rounds of both Wimbledon and the French Open. His recent performance, while commendable, was not enough to overcome the powerful serve of Fritz, who now holds a 6-4 record against Rublev.
As the tournament progresses to its climax, fans can look forward to an exciting final showdown on Thursday on the York University campus, where Fritz and other top players seek glory in this prestigious Canadian championship.