Khachanov falls in Toronto NBO final

TORONTOHYE—Karen Khachanov's impressive run at the National Bank Open in Toronto ended in a narrow loss to American Ben Shelton in Thursday night's final.

Photo: Mig Migirdicyan

Shelton, 22, claimed his first ATP Masters 1000 title with a 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) victory at Sobeys Stadium. The match lasted just over three hours and was decided by small margins, with both players holding serve through most of the deciding set before Shelton prevailed in the tiebreak.

Khachanov, the 29-year-old Russian of Armenian descent, had reached his first Masters 1000 final since 2018 after saving a match point against top-seeded Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. His performances in Toronto move him up four places to No. 12 in the live ATP rankings.

Photo: Mig Migirdicyan

Khachanov has often embraced his Armenian heritage, notably showing public support for Artsakh during the 2023 Australian Open and taking part in a 2024 charity event for displaced families. His Toronto campaign drew visible support from local Armenian fans, with flags spotted across the stadium during the final.