Brandon Nakashima has secured a spot in the men’s singles final of the National Bank Open after defeating the talented teenager Rafael Jodar in a commanding fashion. The 28th-seeded American clinched a 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory in the semifinal match, marking his debut appearance in an ATP Masters 1000 final.

Nakashima displayed control over the rallies, particularly excelling in his serve. The 25-year-old managed to win 68% of his first-service points and maintained an impressive 85% first-serve rate on centre court at IGA Stadium. On the other hand, Jodar, landing 59% of his first serves, struggled to win only 51% of his second-serve points, leading to his defeat in a two-hour, two-minute match. The fiery Spaniard, at times, expressed frustration by hitting his racket against his head and vocalizing his disappointment after errors.

The loss brings an end to Jodar’s remarkable journey, having recently reached the final of the D.C. Open. Despite this setback, the 19-year-old athlete has shown remarkable progress this season, boasting a 30-13 record and climbing the ATP rankings swiftly. As of Wednesday, Jodar was ranked No. 11 in the ATP’s live rankings, having broken into the top 100 on March 30.

The match between Nakashima and Jodar concluded with intense exchanges and momentum shifts as Nakashima served for the win at 5-4. Jodar put up a fight, creating four break point opportunities, all of which Nakashima successfully defended. Eventually, after saving two match points, Jodar failed to return Nakashima’s serve on the third, sealing the victory for Nakashima.

Nakashima’s win sets the stage for an all-American final as he awaits the victor of the match between defending champion Ben Shelton and Learner Tien, both representing the United States.