Rafael Jodar reaches first Masters 1000 semifinal in Canada

Rafael Jodar has reached his first Masters 1000 semifinal. The 19-year-old Spaniard secured the victory in a match that lasted one hour and 42 minutes.

Jodar faced significant challenges during the contest. In the first set, he held a 4-1 lead, but his opponent reduced that advantage to 5-4 before a one-hour rain delay interrupted the play. The Spaniard also lost an early break lead in the second set, though he managed to maintain his composure to secure the win.

Jodar noted that he remained calm during high-pressure moments. He credited his success to breaking his opponent's serve in the fourth game of the second set. He also acknowledged the difficulty of the match, stating that Arthur always competes at his best until the end, even when Jodar held a set and a break advantage.

Jodar will next compete against Brandon Nakashima in the semifinals. The 28th-seeded American reached his first Masters 1000 semifinal by defeating the 19th seed, Luciano Darderi, with a 6-2, 6-3 scoreline. Nakashima expressed that reaching this stage was a goal he had set for himself at the start of the year.

Other results from the tournament included fifth seed Ben Shelton, who defeated Jakub Mensik 6-3, 6-1 in 73 minutes. Learner Tien concluded the Tuesday session in Montreal by beating Daniel Merida 6-3, 6-2. Tien highlighted his strong return game and the high level of play he maintained from the start of the match.