TORONTO — The powerful serve that initially gave Taylor Fritz an edge over Andrey Rublev also played a crucial role in securing his victory after a shaky moment in the second set threatened to shift the momentum. Ultimately, Fritz sealed his win with a striking 20th ace at Sobeys Stadium’s Centre Court, punctuating an impressive performance.
Fritz secured his place in the semifinals of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers with a straight-sets triumph (6-3, 7-6) over Rublev on Tuesday night. Just weeks after his semifinal defeat to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon, Fritz is set to clash with fellow American Ben Shelton in the semifinals on Wednesday.
It appeared early in the match that Fritz — the No. 2 seed at the NBO and currently ranked No. 4 globally — was on track for an easy quarterfinal win against Rublev. The 27-year-old raced to a 3-0 lead in the first set before many spectators were seated, delivering three aces in the opening game and dominating the first nine points. Although Rublev gradually found his rhythm, especially in the second set, Fritz looked poised for a swift victory after breaking Rublev to lead 5-4 in the second. However, he missed a match point during the subsequent game, allowing Rublev to break his serve for the first time since the tournament began.
As the set reached a tense 6-6, Fritz charged ahead with a 3-0 lead in the tiebreaker. This time, he seized the opportunity, hammering home that final ace past Rublev.
Reflecting on his win, Fritz acknowledged feeling slightly rattled after missing that initial chance to close out the match.
“Every time I let an opportunity slip, it stings,” Fritz admitted. “I was so relaxed earlier, but then I tightened up. The key is to keep playing and push forward. I’d be far more frustrated if I let that moment affect me and ended up losing. Getting the win is what matters most now, even though I’m still disgruntled about the missed chance.”
While Fritz found solace in his victory, Rublev expressed frustration with the fast playing conditions in Toronto.
“The game here simplifies down to serving and returning; there’s not much tennis due to these conditions,” noted Rublev, who was a finalist at the NBO last year. “Taylor served remarkably well and had solid returns. But these conditions affect everyone equally.”
Fritz, however, feels well-equipped to tackle any challenge, especially with his service game hitting its stride. “In my last two matches, I’ve managed to deliver standout serves under pressure, racking up lots of free points. Everything feels fluid,” he stated.
Having faced Yannik Sinner in last year’s U.S. Open final, Fritz is inching closer to his second career title at the tour level. With a schedule that allows for a day’s rest between matches, the pace picks up now as he prepares for his semifinal about to unfold tomorrow, followed by the final a day later.
“I’m relieved that my match against Rublev was quick and not too taxing,” Fritz commented. “If I had to recover from a three-setter that went to tie-breakers, that would have been brutal. I’m mentally prepared and felt physically ready after such a manageable match.”
For Shelton, igniting energy in the semifinal showdown will be no issue, as he reaches the final four of a tour-level event for the first time. The 22-year-old, currently ranked No. 7, claimed his spot with a two-set victory (6-3, 6-4) against Aussie Alex de Minaur, firing 11 aces along the way.
“Facing a player like him, who returns so well and stands close to the baseline, is tough,” Shelton said shortly after his match. “I needed a solid serving night, and it turned out to be great. Recent matches have involved plenty of drama, and a straight-set win feels fantastic.”
With both Fritz and Shelton’s aces piling high, it seems their semifinal battle will hinge on which player can keep that momentum going.
