Defending champion Ben Shelton continued his dominant run at the ATP Montreal Masters on Tuesday, securing a place in the semi-finals with a commanding 6-3, 6-1 victory over Jakub Mensik. The win marks Shelton’s 10th straight victory in Canada, and as the only remaining top-10 player in the draw, he remains the favorite to retain his title. Reflecting on the 72-minute performance, the world number 10 noted that he felt excellent from the opening point, maintaining a high level of play throughout the match.
Shelton will face fellow American Learner Tien in Wednesday’s semi-final. Tien earned his spot in the final four by defeating Spain’s Daniel Merida 6-3, 6-2 in a match that lasted 72 minutes. Shelton expressed his satisfaction with his form, stating, “It was a great performance for me, super happy with that and to be in the semis again. I’m right where I want to be.”
The tournament has seen a historic surge for American tennis, as this marks the first time since 1992 that three men from the United States have reached the semi-finals in Canada. Joining Shelton and Tien is 25-year-old Brandon Nakashima, who reached his first Masters semi-final by defeating Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-3. Nakashima, who is currently enjoying a confidence boost following a strong run in Washington, relied heavily on his serve to navigate the match, firing 11 aces and closing out the victory in 77 minutes.
“My serve was super important. It got me out of some tough holes,” Nakashima said. “I also took my opportunities on return when I needed to. I knew I had to open up the court.” Now in his 16th career semi-final, Nakashima will face Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar for a spot in Thursday’s final.
Jodar, playing in only his fifth ATP Masters 1000 event, advanced by overcoming Arthur Fils in a hard-fought 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 victory. Despite a minor ankle issue in the second set, the 19-year-old remained composed as his French opponent struggled with frustration. Jodar, who has secured 34 wins this season and climbed to 15th in the world rankings, emphasized that his primary focus remains on enjoying the experience rather than chasing rankings.
“I played a very high level today against a tough player like Arthur,” Jodar remarked after the match. “I had to give my best to win this match.” He noted that while his ranking is rising, his goal is to continue having fun on the court and learning from new tournament environments.
Fils, who was returning to competition following an injury, managed to save three match points in the final game before Jodar sealed the win with a precise winner into an empty court. The match lasted one hour and 45 minutes.
Shelton’s path to the title remains unblemished, as he has yet to drop a set in Montreal. In his quarter-final against Mensik, he recorded 18 winners against only three unforced errors. The American is eager to build on this momentum as he prepares for the final stages of the tournament.
The upcoming semi-final matches will determine the finalists for Thursday’s championship. With Shelton, Tien, and Nakashima all performing at a high level, the tournament concludes with a significant American presence in the final rounds.
Nakashima reached his breakthrough Masters semi in 77 minutes as he imposed his game on Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-3, setting up three match points with his 11th ace as winning as the Italian missed on a drop shot.
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