Match Stats/Report - Shelton vs Khachanov, Canada final, 2025

[Waspsting]

Ben Shelton beat Karen Khachanov 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) in the Canada final, 2025 on hard court in Toronto

It was Shelton’s first Masters final. Khachanov had previously won his only previous one at Paris 2018

Shelton won 107 points, Khachanov 102

Serve Stats
Shelton...
- 1st serve percentage (69/108) 64%
- 1st serve points won (55/69) 80%
- 2nd serve points won (23/39) 59%
- Aces 16 (1 second serve)
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (43/108) 40%

Khachanov...
- 1st serve percentage (63/101) 62%
- 1st serve points won (46/63) 73%
- 2nd serve points won (26/38) 68%
- Aces 3, Service Winners 2
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (17/101) 17%

Serve Patterns
Shelton served...
- to FH 37%
- to BH 59%
- to Body 4%

Khachanov served...
- to FH 35%
- to BH 62%
- to Body 3%

Return Stats
Shelton made...
- 82 (36 FH, 46 BH), including 11 runaround FHs, 1 runaround BH & 1 return-approach
- 2 Winners (1 FH, 1 BH)
- 12 Errors, comprising...
- 8 Unforced (4 FH, 4 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 4 Forced (4 FH)
- Return Rate (82/99) 83%

Khachanov made...
- 59 (22 FH, 37 BH), including 4 runaround FHs
- 27 Errors, comprising...
- 18 Unforced (11 FH, 7 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 9 Forced (3 FH, 6 BH)
- Return Rate (59/102) 58%

Break Points
Shelton 2/6 (4 games)
Khachanov 1/6 (2 games

Winners (excluding serves, including returns)
Shelton 22 (10 FH, 5 BH, 3 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 OH)
Khachanov 25 (15 FH, 3 BH, 3 FHV, 4 OH)

Shelton's FHs - 3 cc, 1 cc/inside-in, 1 dtl return, 3 inside-out, 1 inside-out/dtl, 1 drop shot
- BHs - 2 cc, 2 dtl (1 return), 1 inside-out/dtl

- 2 from serve-volley points (1 FHV, 1 BHV), both first volleys
- 1 other FHV was a non-net swinging cc shot & 1 was possibly not clean (probably bounced twice before opponent made contact)

Khachanov's FHs - 1 cc/inside-in, 2 dtl, 1 dtl/inside-out, 6 inside-out (1 at net), 2 inside-out/dtl, 1 inside-in, 1 inside-in/cc, 1 longline
- BH passes - 1 cc, 1 dtl, 1 running-down-drop-shot inside-out at net

- 1 OH was on the bounce from the baseline

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Shelton 54
- 36 Unforced (17 FH, 17 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- 18 Forced (10 FH, 7 BH, 1 FHV)... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.8

Khachanov 40
- 18 Unforced (9 FH, 8 BH, 1 BHV)
- 22 Forced (12 FH, 9 BH, 1 BHV)... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.1

(Note 1: all half-volleys refer to such shots played at net. Half -volleys played from other parts of the court are included within relevant groundstroke counts)

(Note 2: the Unforced Error Forcefulness Index is an indicator of how aggressive the average UE was. The numbers presented are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Shelton was...
- 14/25 (56%) at net, including...
- 5/7 (71%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 2/3 (67%) off 1st serve and...
- 3/4 (75%) off 2nd serve
---
- 0/1 return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back

Khachanov was 19/23 (83%) at net, with...
- 1/3 (33%) forced back

Match Report
Good match dominated by the server. Shelton’s serve is often more than opponent can handle, which leaves him room to be a little messy off the ground, but his FH shot making remains dangerous. Khachanov seems to have found perfect balance between force and consistency of his serve, he’s tidy off the ground and his FH play is very impressive, especially from center of court
Shelton wins because somebody has to in a tiebreak. Court is normal

After 1 set, both players have won 42 points
After 2 sets, both players have won 72 points
Heading into the third set tiebreaker, Shel’s won 100 points, Khach 99

Khach serves for the first set at 5-4. Not only can’t he do it, he’s in some danger of losing the set even before tiebreak. But he plays a wonderful ‘breaker with FH dominating the court to take it. He hits 6 successive winners to bridge the first and second sets

Khach makes 1 UE in the second set (Shel has 10), but brilliant, dual winged aggressive game from Shell breaks him near the end. Shel’s serve out is as scratchy as his break was brilliant but he manages
Khach’s unreturend rate after 2 sets reads 6/67. He ups that to 11/34 in the decider, which is thoroughly server dominated. Shell loses 4 points, Khach 5 to hold 6 times and go into another ‘breaker

And Shel plays the better one to take it. Few FH dtl’s come off for him and Khach’s shortcomings on the return - which has been there all match - makes a cameo

Shel wins 107 points, serving 108 of them (Khach wins 102, serving 101)
Break points - Shel 2/6 (4 games), Khach 1/6 (2 games)

Confirming a very close contest. 3/4 Shel’s break point games come in a row, and the other is the return game of the match. Which he follows up with one of the poorest service games of the match

Stats of interest -
- unreturend serves - Shel 40%, Khach 17%
- Khach with 25 winners, 18 UEs showing (Shel has 22 winners, 36 UEs)

Its rare for a match this close to have such a large gap in unreturneds. Nor is Khach a server one would expect to have one that low. Knowing nothing other than that stat, one would think Shel had won easily
In that light, Khach’s first class winners/UE showing is necessary for him to stay even

First serve in - Shel 64%, Khach 62%
First serve won - Shel 80%, Khach 73%
Second serve won - Shel 59%, Khach 68%

The basic stats are also not what one would expect, in light of the stats of interest, particularly, Shel’s second serve points won

40% unreturned serves ---> high first serve points won for Shel, readily understandable
25 winners, 18 UEs for player with 17% freebies whose stayed neck & neck with opponent with 40% freebies ---> not so expected

Would think the player dominated both players’ second serve points
And the 40% freebie player had low second serve points won
In other words, a match of big server coasting on serve vs better court player dominating rally points, which tend to be on second serve points. But no, Shel staying on top of his second serve points (though less so than Khach)

The tennis is good, but worth pointing out that that’s due to ineffective returning from both players. Second serves leave server with healthy initiative of rally. The second serving isn’t particularly special and against a different returner, both players (especially Khach) could find themselves on back foot, let alone neutral, after the return. And we wouldn’t see 59% and 68% second serve points won then

It looks more like neither returner is capable of neutralizing returning against normal second serves than having a bad return day

Shel sets a new world record of granting opponent a first serve twice for the same point, in a strange incident
The audio component of Hawkeye briefly stops working, but apparenlty, the video is still active and available to the Chair
So the Chair calls a Khach first serve out, surprising both players since Hawkeye audio has been making all the calls. Chair briefly explains to the players what's going on and Shel offers Khach another first serve
He misses that one too, and this, time more clearly and again, Chair makes the call
At this point, both players approach the Chair and it takes a good 2+ minutes for them to fully understand the situation
According to Chair, Khach should serve a second serve as technology based delays apparently aren't grounds for resetting the point
Shel again grants him a first serve
Whole match is played in good spirit

Serve & Return
The serving is a lot better than the returning, but in different ways for the two players

Shel’s first serve is varied and very good. Mixes up his pace and directions. High lot of the biggest ones are right in Khach’s swing zone. The odd meatier second serve, but normal enough second serving
Khach just isn’t good enough to return it well in any way. Doesn’t move or react quickly enough to the wide ones to make those. Slightly wide is apt to draw error. Misses most of the big ones that are all but directed to his racquet. He tries to block FH return, but still misses

And when he does make the returns, including against normal second serves, its an average shot that leave Shel in control of third ball

Khach serves below average of force for 2 sets at the very least. He beefs it up some in the third set. Shel’s able to return consistently for 2 sets, but with little force, including against normal second serves. Serve-return contest is more conventional in third set

After 2 sets, Khach has 9% unreturend serves, serving at 63%. 2 aces from 42 first serves and 4/4 return errors drawn marked UEs
In third set, its 32%, serving at 62%. 1 ace, 2 service winners from 21 first serve serves and 4/8 return errors drawn marked UEs

 

[Waspsting]

That is drastic difference across 2 parts, but at same in count. His first serve isn’t gentle in first part, but is contained. Draws soft returns
In second part, troublingly more powerful, still drawing weak returns but now also not coming back

Shel unable to muster even neutralizing force with return in either part. But returning at 90% rate in first part is commendable. Even with Khach playing better in rallies,would expect to break sooner or later

Credit Shel for good enough returning in first part, though on passive side. Its sound long term strategy - hold on back of strong serving, passively make nearly every return and even if outplayed generally, should eventually be good to snag more breaks than other way around. He has run of play going into first set ‘breaker, having break points in his last 3 return games. And he snags a very high quality break to win the second. If he’d won in straights, would call his returning well calculated and executed. Hell of a ‘breaker from Khach upsets that theoretical apple cart (and Shel wobbling to consolidate rare great return game isn’t far from upsetting it to tune of possible straight sets win for Khach even)

Khach’s returning is probably worse than Shel’s serving is good - though its more apt to say the contest simply is what it is

59% second serve points won by Shel. Sans doubles, that rises to 69%. He doesn’t have weak second serve, but those are flattering figures, especially given Khach winning 68% of his own second serve points and wouldn’t be possible without weak returning. This is no low-return-rate-traded-for-high-return-force thing, its can’t make the returns and makes them softly when can. Including against the average serves, first and second

18/27 Khach return errors have been marked UEs. These include relatively not-easy powerful first serves that virtually directed onto his racquet. Can’t even block them back in play. 11/18 of the UEs are FHs (including 2 runarounds). Limited, classic out wide lefty serving by Shel, but those work too. 6/9 FEs are BHs

Gist - strong serving from Shel and its too good for ordinary returning of Khach in almost every way there can be. Straight powerful stuff is too powerful for him, moderate paced wide stuff is too wide for him and most stuff in between. Lot of freebies, lot of weak returns and quality of returns against even average second serves are below par too

Mostly contained serving from Khach. Shel returning it without heat but very regularly. Well played by Khach to stay on top of court game to continuously outplay with barely a blip all match

Play - Baseline (& Net)
Bulk of action is baseline. Both players using FH in variety of ways - to boss action, for point ending shot-making but also, just to rally along. FHs of both are damaging, but neither go overboard in seeking to be aggressive with it

BHs used to stay in rallies and be consistent. For Khach, almost completely. Shell rarely goes for a few attacking plays though. Shel mixing up top spin and slices. Normal slices and almost block ones

There isn’t much persistent cc rallying or substantial FH player looking to overpower other’s BH. Rallies get dual winged. Khach engaging more with FH cc to breakdown Shel’s BH than other way around, but he’s more apt to command the rally by going the other way. Not necessarily after drawing a weak BH or even seeming to look for that to get on the attack

Stats have come very nicely to illustrate action. In baseline rallies -
- Winners - Shel 16 (10 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV), Khach 15 (14 FH, 1 OH)
- Errors forced - Shel 15, Khach 7
(aggressively ended points - Shel 31, Khach 22)
- UEs - Shel 34 (17 FH, 17 BH), Khach 17 (9 FH, 8 BH)

(couple of running-down-drop-shot at net errors included in above, which are technically not baseline points, but winning shot is struck with both players on baseline)

Handiness of FHs best compared via winners/UE differentials. Shel 16-17, Khach 14-9
Very good from Shel, better still from Khach. Shel would be forcing more errors with his FH to add on it it

FH FEs are bulk. For Shel, 5/7 are FHs, 11/15 for Khach. Most drawn by FH longline shots. Shel getting that winning shot more often, though some of it is due to BH play. Shel’s a little quicker and more able to defend, but defence from both is average; a strong wide shot is likely as not to force error

Khach’s FH from around center of court is impressive. He’s got 3 inside-out/dtl or dtl/inside-out winners and most of his 5 inside-out winners are from center of court, not backed well into ad court. When he goes strong with cc by contrast, he usually approaches commandingly (more on that in a second)

Shel uses drop shots now and then. Not very good ones. Khach less so still

Both different ways and effectiveness of BHs coming through also
5 winners for Shel, 0 for Khach. Shel does go in for some shot-making and attacking with the shot, Khach virtually 0. Khach has 3 passing winners, but in ground rallies, missing as little as possible is his aim with the BH. He sticks to firm shots, Shel mixing in a lot of slicing while just rallying. Not biting ones and they don’t trouble Khach. Not even more consistent than his stock top spin shot

BH UEs - Shel 17, Khach 8. Speaks for itself

But Shel occasionally going on the attack with the BH. Its crucial in him breaking in second set and that game perfectly illustrates the value of having a weapon in the BH; virtually entire rest of match both players using just the FH for offence, and its just not quite enough to overwhelm the other.

Neutral UEs - Shel 20, Khach 10
Attacking UEs - Shel 9, Khach 4
Winner attempts UEs - Shel 5, Khach 3

Khach twice as basically consistent and Khach more efficient in attacking too. Shel’s also played sensibly, with edgy attacking gusto. He rallies along much of time, he’s on look to attack but not over-eager or desperate to and he’s successful when he does. He does play a few dumb, low percentage shots out of blue that almost always land out but that’s exception, not rule

 

[Waspsting]

Rallying to net - Shel 9/17, Khach 19/23
Very good use of net from Khach. Some are easy approaches set up by serve, but his thumping strong FH cc’s and coming in is more important. Hitting winners in one direction, commandingly taking net to finish in the other from middle of court using FHs by Khach. Shel could do with more early approaches on his service points, but tends to either serve-volley on rare occasion or attack from back against weak returns. Doesn’t matter much - he’s got enough freebies and is doing well enough from back to hold readily anyway

Khach with 6 volley winners, 1 UE, 1 FE. And he forces 10 passing errors (evenly split across wings), without being passed once. Bad look passes for Shel. He’d hope to sneak a winner or 2 through on percentage grounds alone, but credit Khach for commanding approaches and good judgement in when to approach, when to finish from back

Shel with 6 volley winners, couple UEs, 1 FE
Khach with 3 passing winners (all BHs), 6 FEs (all but 1 BH)

Shel more apt to semi manufacture a random approach (as opposed to commandingly come in). That includes serve volleying a little (3 first serves, 4 seconds), even return-approaching once (its very random and against a firs serve). Worth a shot. Khach staying sharp on the pass, and showing his BH has something more than consistency to it. The non point ending BH passes are hefty shots too and he doesn’t leave Shel with easy putaway volleys with them

Gist - good stuff from both players
Khach with steady BH, and able to command with FH from center of court, attacking in both directions from there. Inside-out or dtl with point ending shots, strong cc to take net
Shel with a dangerous FH and varied BH. Half as consistent as Khach but rarely/occasionally attacks with BH (both wide cc and dtl) unlike him
Shel a little quicker but defence from both is adequate/average from both

Match Progression
Easy holds at start of match. Shel’s serve is too much for Khach, who rarely makes return, and Khach grinds Shel down from back, focusing on his BH, though that’s not necessarily the side that ends up giving up the errors

2 third ball FH cc winners and 2 aces by Shel to open match with love hold
At 3-3, both players have held to love once, and to 15 twice

Khach breaks for 3-4, with Shel’s favoured FH failing him and 3/10 first serves in
Starts game with double fault. Hits third ball FH drop shot winner little later to reach 40-15. Khach hits a nice FH dtl/inside-out winner against a slice to reach decue, after a Shel FH UE
Most of rest of game is Shel’s FH faltering. On last 2 points, misses third ball attacking inside-in and on second break, goes for an ambitious drop shot from normal position after rally goes on, and misses that too

Hard going for Khack on serve for rest of the set. His last 3 service games last 8, 6 and 10 points - with the middle one being a break and the others having 4 break points between them

Gets the break back for 5-5 by holding even on baseline blinks for the game, and scoring with a FH dtl approach + BHV winner. Break point though is pretty lucky. He just manages to get return back as it flicks net chord on way over. And rally ends when his FH cc flicks net, changes pace and is dying on Khach as it draws an FE

Shel has 3 break/set points next go around on eve of tiebreak, with Khach rarely blinking on 2 third ball BHs and both players getting a FH inside-out winner off (Shel after overpowering with FH cc, FH dtl combo)
Even rarer Shel routine return miss on first break point, and Khach brutally erases the second. Later, Shel outlasted in longish rally on third break point, before Khach holds

Momentum with Shel entering the ‘breaker, but Khach ups his game and plays a very good one

Starts by dismissing BH cc pass winner from near service line against a not good serve-volleying drop-volley, but hands the mini back missing approach shot against a slice
Rare attacking, wide third ball BH cc from Khach draws a running FH FE, with Shel looking for dtl winner
Shel comes out with a winning drop shot from routine position for 3-2, and levels with a very good FH inside-out’ish winner against a deep ball
Shel moves to 5-3 with a service point to follow when Khach misses routine first return. And doesn’t win another point
Pretty crazy drop shot choice lands in and not too badly, but Khach gets onto it and wins point at net
He wins the next 3 with winners - smash set up by BH dtl, FH inside-in/cc set up by FH inside-out and FHV set in motion with take-charge FH dtl and that’s the set

Khach starts next set with 3 more winners (OH on bounce from baselien, third ball FH inside-out and FHV. 6 winners in 6 points across 2 sets for him
Turns out to be the best set in the match. Dominant FH play from both players, and Shel even moves to attacking more with the BH

It’s a brilliant game from him to break to 15 for 4-5. Long tough rally ends with Khach driven to going for, and missing BH dtl winner to start the game. Shel shows how its done couple points later with a BH dtl winner and forces 2 FH errors to wrap up (wide BH cc and FH dtl)

The serve out is as scratch as the break was brilliant. Couple third ball FH UEs to start and a below-average volley that’s struck away BH dtl leaves Shel down 0-40
Moderate serves that Khack misses or returns weakly see him get out of trouble
Needs a bit of luck still to close it out, when a bad drop shot leaves Khach in commanding position at net. More luck than skill in Shell getting a wrong footing pass away that forces BHV error

Khach serves much stronger in deciding set, as outlined earlier. Set is completely server dominated. Only 3/12 regular games go to 30 and not once is returner ahead in a game. Khach’s bigger serving yields fruit and easier holds than before, but he struggles even by his standard for the match against routine placed, powerful serves

The latter doesn’t change in the tiebreak, which Khach opens with a FH UE against above average powerful ball. He goes onto miss 2 first returns readily in reach and barely moves as a not too wide ace goes by
Shel meanwhile takes couple of points with winning FH line shots (including match point) and boldly striking a first return winner with the same shot. He doesn’t lose a service point in the game

Summing up, good match from both players. Shelton with a good serve that he paces and mixes up well; doesn’t go for too much with it, with whatever he’s dishing out good to draw errors and weak returns from opponent. His FH is dangerous, his BH is usually outlasted by steadier opponent but not easily and he shows variety on that side too

Khachanov with commanding FH, which he uses to finish or to take net to finish and steady BH that’s better than either of opponent’s shots. His return just isn’t upto handling Shelton’s good serve

Good action, largely based with returning not good enough to make headway. Even normal second serves from both players give server advantage they can launch to dominate from
Little in the result. Shelton wins because someone has to win a tiebreak and he does play a good, bold one at the end to earn it