Montreal (Canada) (AFP) – Spanish teen Rafael Jodar defeated Czech eighth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP Montreal Masters. Jodar dominated the night match after an afternoon rain delay in the Masters 1000 hardcourt event. The 19-year-old Spaniard, runner-up last week in Washington, never let Lehecka into their fourth-round match in collecting his 33rd victory of the season.
World number 15 Jodar has reached the last eight in seven of his past eight events, and a Montreal title would send the youngster to a top-10 ranking for the first time. Jodar will play for a semi-final berth against French 18th seed Arthur Fils, who defeated Britain’s Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-6 (10/8). Fils, who lost to Jodar last week in Washington, will play in his fourth Masters quarter-final of the year.
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“It was a very nice battle,” Fils said. “The second set was back and forth. He really raised his level. I got a bit tight but I’m happy to get out in two sets. I’m confident with how I’m playing right now.”
Italian Luciano Darderi fuelled himself with an espresso shot during a mid-match changeover in a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Nuno Borges to reach the quarter-finals. It was not the first time Darderi had downed his national rocket fuel to fire up the afterburners in a tight situation on court. Darderi will bid for the semis against Brandon Nakashima, whose match with Arthur Rinderknech was interrupted for nearly two hours with the final set level at 4-4. Players were taken off court due to rain and the threat of lightning, returning to finish after almost two hours.
Nakashima withstood a love game from his French opponent but broke serve a game later before finishing a 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 7-5 victory on his first match point, thanks to 22 unforced errors from Rinderknech. He broke through in a Masters round of 16 after losing in his first five matches at this level. “Coming out after the break I knew I had to fire at the beginning,” Nakashima said. “My level is growing with each match and I’m trying to make the most of it.”
ATP number 22 Darderi will be playing in an ATP-leading 10th quarter-final of the season after earning his 30th victory of 2026. Darderi will be playing in his second Masters last-eight of the season after achieving the quarters last May at home in Rome.
– ‘I deserved this win’ –
The 24-year-old overcame more than 40 winners off the racquet of his Portuguese opponent, starting his comeback in the second set with a 5-2 lead and carrying momentum into the third. Darderi broke for 4-3 as Borges double-faulted but lost his own serve moments later for 4-all. The Italian got an insurance break for 6-5 as a net cord bounced out for Borges, then served out the triumph with an ace on match point a game later.
“This is my first Masters quarter-final on hardcourt so I’m very pleased,” the winner said. “I like the conditions here and the crowd helped me in the third set. I deserved this win. I’ve improved my hardcourt game a lot. I try to play every match at full power. Playing well on hard is good for me after starting (my career) on clay.”
© 2024 AFP
