Nakashima ends Jodar's run in Montreal, reaches first Masters 1000 final

Brandon Nakashima booked his spot in his first ATP Masters 1000 final on Wednesday at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Montreal, where he defeated first-time Masters 1000 semifinalist Rafael Jodar 7-6(3), 6-4.

In one of his best performances of the season, Nakashima played ultra-aggressively from the baseline, overpowering the 19-year-old Jodar with his big baseline ball striking in the pair's first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

 After winning a tight opening set on a tie-break, Nakashima crucially saved four break points when serving out at 5-4 in the second set to advance after two hours and four minutes

The American, who struck 28 winners and won 81 per cent of his first-serve points, raised his arms aloft after eventually sealing victory on his fifth match point following a dramatic final 10-minute game.

“It was crazy, the last few games were super tight,” Nakashima said in his on-court interview. “I knew I had to keep fighting and fight off a couple of break points but luckily my serve hit the spots when I needed it to and super happy to get through that one.”

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