Jódar reaches first Masters 1000 semifinal in Montreal with win over Fils

First Masters 1000 semifinal

Rafa Jódar, 19, became the first tennis player born in 2006 or later to reach a Masters 1000 semifinal after defeating France's Arthur Fils 7-6(5), 6-3 in Montreal. The Spaniard, ranked 15th in the world and projected to climb to 11th, overcame rain delays, a left wrist injury sustained in the Washington final against Taylor Fritz, and an in-match ankle twist to advance to the last four of the National Bank Open, the sixth ATP Masters 1000 of the season.

Match progression

The quarterfinal was originally scheduled for Monday but postponed to Tuesday due to rain, the same disruption Jódar had faced in Washington, where the final was played a day late on Monday. Once on court, Jódar survived a break point in the opening game and then broke Fils's serve for a 3-0 lead. He generated five break points to go 5-1 but could not convert any, and Fils recovered to level at 4-4. With Jódar leading 5-4 and Fils serving at 30-0, rain interrupted the match for nearly an hour. After the resumption, Fils held to level at 5-5, and both players held serve to force a tie-break. Jódar needed three set points but took the tie-break 7-5.

In the second set, Jódar broke in the third game, though Fils immediately broke back. Jódar then broke again for 4-3 and served out the match, winning 6-3 after one hour and 42 minutes. Fils, increasingly frustrated, destroyed his racket after the first break of the second set and sought explanations from his team after the second break, to no avail. Jódar also twisted his ankle during the match but it did not affect his focus.

Head-to-head and season context

This was the third meeting between Jódar and Fils in 2026. Fils won the first encounter in the Barcelona semifinals (3-6, 6-3, 6-2), on his way to the most important title of his career. Jódar won the rematch in the Washington first round (7-6(5), 6-3) just days before Montreal, and replicated that exact scoreline in Canada.

Jódar's first season on the circuit includes a title in Marrakech, a final in Washington, and quarterfinal exits in Madrid (to Sinner) and Rome (to Darderi). The US Open begins in less than three weeks.

Next opponent

Jódar will face American Brandon Nakashima in the semifinal. Nakashima, 25, ranked 31st in the world and the oldest of the eight players born this century who reached the quarterfinals in Montreal, defeated Italy's Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-3. It will be the first direct meeting between Jódar and Nakashima.

Match statistics

Jódar won 61% of his first serves, converting 16 of 20 first-serve points and 4 of 13 on second serve, with 2 aces and 1 double fault. Fils had a higher first-serve percentage at 68%, winning 15 of 21 first-serve points and 4 of 10 on second serve, with 3 aces and no double faults.