No sign of Jodar slowing down as Spaniard tops Fils to reach NBO semis

The way he is playing, though, Rafael Jodar seems to be well on his way to a long, long stay atop the game. 

The 19-year-old became the first teenager to make the men’s semifinals at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers since 2018 after defeating Arthur Fils for the second tournament in a row. 

The score was 7-6(5), 6-3 in Montreal — identical to the score in Washington two weeks ago. 

Jodar began the year ranked No. 165. With his win over the Frenchman, he moved up to No. 11 in the live rankings. The top 10 could be just around the corner. 

When they met in Washington, the first set could have gone either way. On Tuesday afternoon at IGA Stadium, Jodar had chances to dominate the first set.  

Following a two-game swing to begin — Jodar saved a break point, then broke for 2-0 — he put constant pressure on Fils with his returns and impeccable baseline play. 

READ: ‘Grandfather’ Nakashima serves big, beats Darderi at NBO for breakthrough

Fils fended off two break points at 0-3, then three more at 1-4. The momentum was changing and Fils began the seventh game by outlasting Jodar in a 28-shot rally. The fans erupted. 

Another extended rally saw both lash crosscourt forehands, before Fils prevailed again.

Back on serve and serving at 4-5, 30-0, the rain came at the wrong time for Fils. After a roughly one hour pause, Fils managed to hold for 5-5 once play resumed.

Despite the interruption, the rallies continued to excite. Jodar began the 11th game by capping a 25-shot lung buster rally with a volley winner. 

Fils, a supreme mover, was indeed making the 6-foot-3 Spaniard work hard for every point. 

The only mini-break of the tiebreak came when Jodar ripped a backhand down the line. Against most, he would have won the point immediately. But Fils got his forehand swipe back in play, only for Jodar to summon up a perfect drop shot for 2-1. 

Another drop shot earned him a break for 2-1 in the second set, prompting Fils to take out his frustrations on his racquet. 

He got back on serve but Jodar — who has broken his foes 20 times at the NBO — replied for 4-3. 

Fils still wasn’t out of it, earning a break back point. With Jodar up at the net, Fils gave Jodar an opportunity to put away a volley, which he took. 

Jodar had rolled his ankle earlier in the set, though seemed to be moving fine, and the match ended with another winner off his racquet. 

Jodar will face Brandon Nakashima in the semifinals. The American started play on Centre Court by topping Italy’s Luciano Darderi, 6-2, 6-3.

Photo: Pascal Ratthé