National Bank Open 2025 Day 9 Recap

The upper half of the Toronto draw was locked in its semi-finalists on Monday, with both results with sowing.

Alexander Zverev continued his driving and rally from a set to finally Alexei Popyrin’s title defense in three tight sets.

It was not always clean, but Zverev’s advance, often a responsibility under pressure, kept impressive when he moved to 4-0 in their head-to-head.

On the other hand, Karen Khachanov worked quietly past Alex Michelsen in a straight victory that was much closer than the results line suggests.

The large striking Russian saved two stock exchange values in the second set and relied on connection and experience to edge the 20-year-old American, who looked dangerous but could not convert the big moments.

Here is everything that went down on day 9 at the National Bank Open.

Day nine Canadian open 2025 quarter final results

Alexander Zverev Def. Alexei Popyrin, 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-3

Alexander Zverev Doused Alexei Popyrin’s title defense in Toronto and gathered for a 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-3 victory to reach the National Bank Open semi-finals.

The upper seed, frustrated after missing two set points in the first set of tiebreak, regrouped to dominate the second and third sets, which improved to 4-0 in its head-to-head.

Popyrins Net-Cord Volley stole the opener, but Zverev replied with early 3-0 wires in the next two sets, and although Popyrin recovered from 2-4 to 4-4 in the second, kicked Sascha straight back in gear and won 82% of the first service points all the time.

I thought Zverev met his forehand pretty well last night, and he hardly made any mistakes on that wing during sets two and three, which is rare for him.

Still early days, of course, because this is only a quarter final against the Popyrin, and he has to do it in the big finals, but maybe he is on the right track.

I had to say to myself, even though I lost the first set, I thought we both actually played pretty well. I made one or two mistakes in the end [of the tie-break]And I was very unlucky with the net cable at the stock market value. But everything in everything I thought it was a high level, and if I continue to play that way I will get my chances – and that is what I did. I had to find a return position in the beginning because he is a very large server, and when he gets into a rhythm it is very difficult to him. I did it in the second and third set. Honestly, I can’t complain much. I played a loose game on my serving in the second set, but apart from that it was pretty good. Zverev on his performance.

Match statistics

Highlights

Karen Khachanov Def. Alex Michelsen, 6-4, 7-6 (3)

Karen Khachanov drove into his third National Bank Open semi-final and exceeded 20-year-old Alex Michelsen 6-4, 7-6 (3) in a close showdown and even his H2H on 1-1 after Michelsen’s victory at the Australian Open.

The 11th seed, which reached this step in 2018 and 2019, saved six out of seven break points, including two sets of 4-5 in the second set, which leaned on its 85% first serve (40/47) to keep control. He sealed tiebreak by winning the last five points and mixing aggression with precision.

Khachanov is one of the guys who sneak through the later stages of tournaments without getting a lot of media or fans coverage. Yet he is one of the most consistent players out there; His career stopped after he won the Paris Masters, but he has been within the top 20 since 2018.

Very close, very competitive match. Had some advantages, then I was suddenly down and I was facing a point on my serve. I earned well, two serving. These are the moments, always in a tennis match, you try to overcome … how you come out mentally from this situation is very important, so I am really happy and proud that I could close it in the second set at the end. The conditions are different in Australia … different balls, different surfaces, the ball slides more through the air. So maybe I played with less spins, more flatter and did not try to give him the opportunity to step into the track and attack. That’s what I did really well today. Khachanov on his win.

Match statistics

Highlights

Canadian Open 2025 Day 10 Quarter Final Matches