MONTREAL — Brandon Nakashima has stormed into the finals of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers, triumphing over 19-year-old sensation Rafael Jodar, a beloved figure among the fans.
The 28th-seeded American cruised to a 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory in Wednesday’s semifinal, marking his inaugural appearance in an ATP Masters 1000 final.
Nakashima commanded the match, particularly excelling on serve. The 25-year-old clinched 68 percent of his first-service points, successfully putting 85 percent of his first serves in play at IGA Stadium’s center court.
In contrast, Jodar managed to land 59 percent of his first serves and only secured 51 percent of his second-serve points, concluding the match after two hours and two minutes. The passionate Spaniard displayed his frustration at times, notably hitting his racket against his head and expressing his discontent after errors.
This defeat wraps up an impressive journey for the young athlete, who also reached the D.C. Open final just a week prior.
Jodar has swiftly ascended the ATP rankings during his debut season on tour, boasting a 30-13 record. He entered Wednesday’s match ranked No. 11 in the ATP’s live standings after breaking into the top 100 on March 30.
The match culminated in a thrilling finale filled with lengthy rallies and changing dynamics as Nakashima served for victory at 5-4.
Jodar battled fiercely to keep his hopes alive, pushing Nakashima to fend off four break points. The Spaniard saved two match points, but ultimately could not return Nakashima’s serve on the third opportunity.
Nakashima’s win sets up an all-American showdown in the finals. He will compete against the victor from Wednesday’s late match between defending champion Ben Shelton and Learner Tien, both hailing from the United States (Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet+).
