Nakashima reaches Montreal Masters 1000 semifinals

American Brandon Nakashima has secured the first semifinal spot at the Masters 1000 Montreal tournament. The 25-year-old defeated Italy's Luciano Darderi in a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory, marking his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal appearance.

Nakashima, currently ranked 31st in the ATP, showcased strong form, particularly with his serve, delivering 11 aces to Darderi's 2. "The serve was super important for me, especially in the second set. It gave me a lot of confidence and then I took advantage of my opportunities on return," Nakashima said after the match. He added, "My confidence is higher than ever."

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The serve was super important for me, especially in the second set. It gave me a lot of confidence and then I took advantage of my opportunities on return.

The San Diego native's win follows his semifinal appearance at the Washington 500 ATP tournament. He will face either Spanish prospect Rafa Jódar or France's Arthur Fils in the semifinals. These quarterfinal matches were delayed due to rain.

Other quarterfinal matchups include defending champion Ben Shelton against Jakub Mensik, and Spain's Daniel Mérida facing Learner Tien. The Montreal Masters 1000 concludes Thursday, overlapping with the Cincinnati Masters 1000, the final major hard-court event before the US Open begins on August 30.

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My confidence is higher than ever.