Brandon Nakashima secured his spot in the men’s singles final of the National Bank Open after defeating young talent Rafael Jodar in a commanding fashion. The 28th-seeded American claimed a 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory in the semifinal match on Wednesday, marking his first appearance in an ATP Masters 1000 final.
Throughout the game, Nakashima controlled the pace of play, particularly excelling in his serving. The 25-year-old impressively won 68% of his first-service points and landed 85% of his first serves on the court at IGA Stadium. On the other hand, Jodar managed to hit 59% of his first serves but struggled to win only 51% of his second-serve points, ultimately losing the match after two hours and two minutes. The fiery Spaniard displayed signs of frustration, including hitting his racket against his head and vocal outbursts following errors.
Despite Jodar’s recent success, reaching the D.C. Open final last week, his journey at the National Bank Open came to an end. The 19-year-old athlete has made significant strides in the ATP rankings during his debut season on the tour, amassing a 30-13 record. Before the match, Jodar held the 11th spot in the live ATP rankings, having broken into the top 100 on March 30.
The intense match concluded with Nakashima serving for the win at 5-4, with both players engaged in lengthy rallies and momentum shifts. Jodar fought hard, creating four break point opportunities, but Nakashima successfully defended against each one. Despite saving two match points, Jodar failed to return Nakashima’s serve on the third, sealing the victory for the American.
Nakashima’s triumph sets up an all-American final as he awaits the winner between defending champion Ben Shelton and Learner Tien from the United States in the late match on Wednesday.
