Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Toronto match.
Alexander Zverev arrives in Toronto as the top seed and has so far justified his status as the tournament front-runner. In the semi-finals, he will take on Karen Khachanov, a player the German has comfortably beaten in their last two encounters on North American hard courts.
Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev has been in solid form on this surface, losing just 4 of his 19 hard-court matches this season. This is his first semi-finals appearance in Toronto, where he has defeated three players ranked inside the world’s top 50. Against top-20 opponents at Masters 1000 events on hard courts, Alexander boasts a record of eight wins from 13 matches (62%). However, his campaign hasn’t been without flaws — in each of his three matches, he has conceded at least 10 games and is averaging four double faults per match.
Karen Khachanov
Karen Khachanov is also making his first semi-finals appearance in Toronto and has dropped only one set en route. The Russian has recorded two notable wins against Alex Michelsen and Casper Ruud, both ranked inside the top 50. Over four matches in Canada, Karen has hit 27 aces and has averaged a 78% win rate on his first serve. Still, his tactical limitations remain apparent — he trails Alexander Zverev (2:5) in their head-to-head, including two straight-set defeats on hard courts last year.
Alexander Zverev vs Karen Khachanov Prediction
Given the disparity in quality, recent form, and head-to-head record, Alexander Zverev is the clear favourite. He has already defeated Karen Khachanov on hard courts in Miami and Cincinnati, but with a place in the final of a Masters 1000 event on the line, the Russian is expected to provide stiffer resistance and avoid a heavy loss.
