MONTREAL — The reigning champion of the National Bank Open men’s singles, Ben Shelton, has advanced to the semifinals after a dominant performance against Jakub Mensik from Czechia, clinching the match 6-3, 6-1 at IGA Stadium on Tuesday night.
“Tonight was fantastic for me,” Shelton expressed. “When everything is firing on all cylinders, it makes the mental side of things so much easier out there.”
“The tougher days are when you’re battling through difficulties or challenges on your end of the court that just can’t seem to find a solution.”
Maintaining his flawless record, Shelton has yet to drop a set in the 2026 tournament, marking his 16th career ATP Tour-level semifinal and his first hard-court semifinal since securing the ATP 500 title in Dallas back in February.
Additionally, Shelton broke a previous two-match losing streak against Mensik, with those losses coming in last season’s encounters.
The 23-year-old labeled his victory over Mensik as his “most polished performance” of the tournament thus far.
“Right from the first or second rally, which lasted 20 shots, I could tell I was in a good spot,” Shelton noted. “Even though Mensik started strong, I had a feeling it was going to be my night.”
With the match featuring some intense rallies early on, Shelton turned the tide in the fifth game of the first set, breaking his opponent with a stunning winner.
He managed to break again four games later, capitalizing on a crucial double fault from Mensik, his ninth unforced error of the set.
Starting the second set strong, Shelton broke serve immediately, showcasing his power with a forehand winner down the line, and secured another break soon after.
Mensik wrapped up the match with 16 unforced errors compared to Shelton’s mere three. The Czech player also had three double faults, while Shelton recorded only one.
In a thrilling semifinal matchup, Shelton will face fellow American Learner Tien, who overcame Spain’s Daniel Merida 6-3, 6-2 in the previous match.
“I’ve been improving with each match,” Tien commented. “Although I didn’t start the tournament feeling my best, I’ve been honing my skills and getting better each round.”
Earlier in the day, Brandon Nakashima also made his way to the semifinals with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over Luciano Darderi, marking a significant achievement for the United States with three men in the semifinals.
This trio of Shelton, Tien, and Nakashima marked the first time since 1992 that American men have claimed all three semifinal spots in Canada, a feat previously achieved by legends Andre Agassi, Ivan Lendl, and MaliVai Washington.
“I’m constantly cheering for my fellow American players,” Shelton added. “It’s been exciting to witness so many of us finding success. We’re sharing the spotlight, and it feels great.”
Meanwhile, nineteen-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar triumphed over France’s Arthur Fils with a score of 7-6 (5), 6-3, concluding Tuesday’s day session.
This victory elevated Jodar’s record to 34-13 in his debut ATP Tour season, pushing him to No. 11 in the live ATP rankings from a start at No. 168. He also etched his name in history as the first man born in 2006 or later to reach a Masters 1000 semifinal.
“My goal remains unchanged: to improve and experience as many tournaments as possible in my first year,” Jodar remarked. “I want to play as many matches as I can, focusing on the results. The rankings are secondary for me.”
Jodar broke Fils early on, but the Frenchman fought back to level the opening set. A crucial rain delay at 5-4 didn’t deter Jodar, who took the tiebreak and sealed the win with a decisive break in the second set’s seventh game.
This victory marked Jodar’s second win over Fils in consecutive tournaments, having previously beaten him in Washington, D.C., last week.
Jodar will now meet Nakashima in an exciting semifinal showdown, marking the first Masters 1000 semifinal for both athletes.
“My goal at the start of the year was to excel at a Masters 1000 event,” Nakashima stated. “Achieving that for the first time here is incredibly special.”
Nakashima achieved his win by breaking serve twice in the opening set and sealing the match with a break in the eighth game of the second set, completing the victory in just 1 hour and 17 minutes, with an impressive 11 aces to Darderi’s two.
The National Bank Open continues with both semifinal matches scheduled for Wednesday night (Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet+), leading up to the championship match on Thursday.
