Canadian Open: Taylor Fritz Vs Ben Shelton In All-American Semis

Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton won their respective quarterfinals of the Canadian Open 2025 on Tuesday, setting up the first all-American semifinal in an ATP Masters 1000 tournament in 15 years.

Fritz hit three aces to win the first game. He then broke Rublev in securing the match’s first eight points.

The second-seeded Fritz beat No. 6 seed Andrey Rublev 6-3, 7-6 (4). His win saw 20 aces, including one that finished off the match.

Bidding for his 11th ATP Tour victory and second Masters 1000 title, Fritz broke Rublev with the second set tied 4-4, but the Russian returned the favour to stay alive in the next game and went up 6-5 before Fritz forced the tiebreaker.

Fritz lost in the Wimbledon semifinals to No. 2-ranked Carlos Alcaraz.

On the other hand, Shelton, the No. 4 seed, overcame No. 9 Alex de Minaur of Australia 6-3, 6-4. This is the first time that the 22-year-old has reached the semifinals of an ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

Shelton served 13 aces in the 91-minute win. He clubbed eight forehand winners and capitalised on an unusual 28 unforced errors from De Minaur. He also won 32 baseline points to De Minaur’s 29, edging the Australian 12-7 in rallies of nine or more shots.

Victory over 2023 Toronto finalist De Minaur has lifted Shelton two spots to seventh in the rankings as he races to book a spot to make his debut at the season finale from 9-16 November in Turin, Italy.

First time in 15 years

Fritz and Shelton will lock horns on Wednesday in what will be the first that two Americans have met in an ATP Masters 1000 semifinal.

The last time this happened was Andy Roddick beat Mardy Fish at Cincinnati in 2010.

Fritz won their only previous meeting in 2023 at Indian Wells.

“He’s a big-match player,” Shelton said. “He’s been carrying the flag for the United States in the big tournaments as of late. He’s clutch, serves well. We’re great friends.

“It’s a match that I’m really excited about.”

“I have no doubt that one of us is going to get it at some point,” said Shelton, who is ranked seventh. “Who knows who it is? You guys just got to wait and see … American tennis is in a really good place.”