Brandon Nakashima, a 28th-seeded American, achieved his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal this week and has now advanced to the National Bank Open men’s singles final. He secured a 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory over Rafael Jodar in the semifinals. Expressing his joy, Nakashima mentioned that he had confidence in his high-level performance entering the tournament and is thrilled that his hard work is paying off. He will compete against defending champion Ben Shelton in an all-American final.
Shelton, the fifth seed, swiftly defeated Learner Tien 6-2, 6-3 in just 84 minutes. Nakashima dominated the rallies in his match, especially on serve, winning 68% of his first-service points and landing 85% of his first serves. Jodar, the 19-year-old 20th seed, struggled to match Nakashima’s aggressive play, managing to win only 51% of his second-serve points.
Despite a valiant effort, Jodar’s journey came to an end, missing the chance to become the youngest Canadian Open finalist since Rafael Nadal in 2005. Nakashima praised Jodar’s talent and recognized the excitement surrounding the young player’s rise in the ATP rankings.
In a tense finish, Nakashima served for the win at 5-4 in the second set, with Jodar fighting to stay in the match amidst enthusiastic crowd support. Nakashima successfully defended break points and secured the victory after a thrilling final game. Meanwhile, Shelton’s clinical performance paved his way to the final.
In the women’s event, Iga Swiatek overcame Elina Svitolina to reach her first WTA Tour final in almost a year. Swiatek’s victory was hard-fought, with the match delayed due to wet weather. She will face the winner of the semifinal between Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina. The final was set for the following day.
Svitolina struggled initially in the match, falling behind before staging a comeback in the second set. Swiatek’s strong net play and baseline power ultimately secured her win in the deciding set, advancing her to the final. All four semifinalists in the women’s event are in the top 10 rankings, making for an exciting competition at the National Bank Open.