Rafael Jódar advanced to his first career ATP Masters 1000 semifinal in Montreal, defeating France’s Arthur Fils 7-6 (5), 6-3 in a rain-delayed quarterfinal clash, according to match reports. The Spanish teenager secured the straight-set victory in one hour and 42 minutes, navigating both weather disruptions and a resilient opponent to book a meeting with American Brandon Nakashima.
The match, originally scheduled to be played a day earlier, was pushed back due to persistent rain in Montreal, forcing players to wait nearly 20 hours past their initial slot. Additional wet weather interrupted play briefly during the first set with Jódar leading 5-4 and Fils leading 30-0 in the game, but the disruption failed to derail the 19-year-old Spaniard’s rhythm.
Navigating Weather Delays and a Fierce First Set
Jódar entered the tournament carrying questions about his left wrist after sustaining an injury during the Washington final against Taylor Fritz, but match reports confirm he quickly erased those doubts on the hard courts of Montreal. The opening set featured immediate momentum shifts as Jódar broke Fils early and stretched his lead, only to let multiple opportunities slip away. Records show the Spaniard held two chances to go up 4-0 and three more to claim a 5-1 advantage, but Fils fought off each break point to claw his way back to 4-4.
The set ultimately progressed to a tiebreak, where Jódar maintained his composure to edge out the Frenchman 7-5. Having secured the crucial opening frame, Jódar quickly capitalized on the shift in momentum at the start of the second set. He broke Fils to move ahead 2-1, absorbed a brief counterpunch from the Frenchman, and then struck again to establish a 4-3 lead. After a marathon service game, Jódar broke once more to put himself within reach of the match.
Closing Out the Quarterfinal and the Path to Nakashima
Serving for the victory, Jódar converted his fourth match point to seal the 6-3 second set and secure his place among the final four. The victory marks a historic milestone for the teenager, who becomes the first player born in 2006 or later to reach the semifinals of a Masters 1000 tournament, according to tournament records.
Jódar now moves on to face Brandon Nakashima for a spot in the Montreal final. Nakashima advanced to his own maiden Masters 1000 semifinal by defeating Lorenzo Darderi 6-2, 6-3.
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