Brandon Nakashima has reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final after surviving a tense semifinal against teenage sensation Rafael Jodar at the National Bank Open in Montreal.
The 25-year-old American prevailed 7-6, 6-4 in a two-hour, four-minute battle, producing a composed display when the pressure was at its highest to book his place in a championship match that will be an all-American affair.
Nakashima took an aggressive approach from the start, using his powerful groundstrokes and reliable serve to keep Jodar under pressure. Neither player managed to break in the opening set, forcing a tie-break that Nakashima eventually won to take the early advantage.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with both players holding serve through the opening stages. Nakashima then found himself serving for the match at 5-4, only to face a major test as Jodar earned four break points.
The American refused to give the Spaniard an opening, saving all four chances before finally converting his fifth match point to complete the victory.
"It was crazy, the last few games were super tight," Nakashima said. "I knew I had to keep fighting. Luckily my serve hit the spots when I needed it to and I'm super happy to get through that one."
Nakashima finished with 28 winners and won 81 percent of his first-serve points, underlining how important his serve was during the tight moments.
The victory sends him into his fifth tour-level final and his first at Masters 1000 level. It also marks his fifth win over a Top-20 opponent this season and guarantees him a new career-high ranking when the next ATP rankings are released.
Nakashima has climbed to No. 22 in the live rankings following his run in Montreal and now has the opportunity to claim his second career title, having previously triumphed in San Diego in 2022.
The American will face either compatriot Ben Shelton or Learner Tien in the final, guaranteeing the first all-American Masters 1000 final since Andy Roddick defeated Mardy Fish in Cincinnati in 2003.
It will be the 15th all-American final in Masters 1000 history and another sign of the strength of American men's tennis, which has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years.
"It is a great feeling," Nakashima said of reaching the final. "It is a great time to be part of American tennis, so many guys doing well these days, so happy to be a part of it."
Jodar may have fallen short of reaching his first Masters 1000 final, but the 19-year-old Spaniard leaves Montreal with another major milestone in his breakthrough season.
Having started the year ranked No. 165, Jodar has surged to No. 11 in the live rankings after his impressive run. His victories over Arthur Fils, Jiri Lehecka and Lorenzo Musetti helped him become the first player born in 2006 or later to reach a Masters 1000 semifinal.
Jodar has also won the Marrakech title this season and reached the final in Washington, underlining his rapid rise on the ATP Tour.
While Nakashima now has the chance to add another trophy to his collection, Jodar's run in Montreal has provided another clear indication that the teenager is quickly becoming one of the sport's most promising young players.
