National Bank Open 2026, Montreal Day Eleven Semi Final Recap

The ultimate is ready in Montreal, and it is going to be an all-American showdown between defending champion Ben Shelton and Brandon Nakashima.

Shelton has appeared the category of the sphere from the opening spherical, reaching the championship match with out dropping a set and avenging his two earlier defeats to Learner Tien with a commanding semi-final efficiency.

Nakashima, in the meantime, has produced the most effective Masters 1000 run of his profession, backing up wins over Luciano Darderi and Rafael Jódar to succeed in his first remaining above ATP 250 stage.

On paper, Shelton has a transparent edge. He leads the head-to-head 5-0, with 4 of these victories approaching out of doors laborious courts, and arrives within the remaining unbeaten in ATP Tour finals this season after lifting titles in Dallas, Munich and Stuttgart.

Nakashima’s file in championship matches is extra modest at 1-3, along with his lone ATP title coming in San Diego in 2022, however he has been hanging the ball as cleanly as anybody this week

If Shelton serves as he has all through the match, he’ll begin as favorite to turn out to be the primary man since Rafael Nadal in 2018-19 to efficiently defend the Canadian Masters title.

Nonetheless, Nakashima’s consistency from the baseline and skill to soak up tempo will hopefully make this a extra aggressive contest than their head-to-head file may recommend. Right here’s how the semi-finals performed out.

Day Eleven Nationwide Financial institution Open 2026 Semifinal Outcomes

Winner
Loser
Rating

(5) Ben Shelton
(12) Learner Tien
6-2 6-3

(28) Brandon Nakashima
(20) Rafael Jódar
7-6(3) 6-4

Match Recap

Ben Shelton def. Learner Tien 6-2, 6-3

Ben Shelton lastly solved the Learner Tien puzzle along with his most full all-around efficiency of the week, defeating his fellow American to succeed in a second consecutive Canadian Masters 1000 remaining.

Having misplaced each of their earlier encounters, Shelton got here in with one thing to show and by no means allowed Tien to settle into the grinding baseline exchanges that had troubled him earlier than.

After saving break factors early in each of his opening service video games, the defending champion discovered his rhythm, served beautifully and matched Tien’s consistency from the again of the court docket whereas including way more firepower.

Shelton didn’t drop serve all match, received 81% of his first-serve factors and has now reached the ultimate with out dropping a set.

In a weakened draw, he’s appeared the most effective participant within the discipline from the opening spherical and is one win away from efficiently defending his title.

Match Stats

Key Stats
Learner Tien
Ben Shelton

Winners
13
22

Unforced Errors
30
23

Aces
1
5

Double Faults
5
1

1st Serve %
58% (29/50)
74% (43/58)

1st Serve Factors Received
55% (16/29)
81% (35/43)

2nd Serve Factors Received
52% (11/21)
40% (6/15)

Break Factors Saved
40% (2/5)
100% (4/4)

Service Video games
63% (5/8)
100% (9/9)

1st Return Factors Received
19% (8/43)
45% (13/29)

2nd Return Factors Received
60% (9/15)
48% (10/21)

Break Factors Received
0% (0/4)
60% (3/5)

Return Video games
0% (0/9)
38% (3/8)

Stress Factors
22% (2/9)
78% (7/9)

Service Factors
54% (27/50)
71% (41/58)

Return Factors
29% (17/58)
46% (23/50)

Internet Factors
86% (6/7)
67% (6/9)

Whole Factors
41% (44/108)
59% (64/108)

Match Factors Saved
2
–

Max Factors In A Row
4
13

Whole Video games
29% (5/17)
71% (12/17)

Max Video games In A Row
1
7

Highlights

Brandon Nakashima def. Rafael Jódar 7-6(3), 6-4

Brandon Nakashima ended Rafael Jódar’s laborious court docket run to succeed in the most important remaining of his profession with a composed, high-quality efficiency.

The opening set was finely balanced till Nakashima took management of the tie-break along with his sometimes clear ball-striking.

Jódar competed laborious within the second and created 4 break factors as Nakashima served for the match, however the American held his nerve, leaning on a wonderful first serve earlier than ultimately changing his fifth match level.

It was the most effective Nakashima performances I’ve seen from him. He struck 28 winners, received 81% of his first-serve factors and constantly rushed Jódar with the depth and tempo of his groundstrokes.