Ben Shelton and Brandon Nakashima are set to contest the National Bank Open final on Thursday night in Montreal. Shelton, the defending champion and fifth seed, advanced after dispatching Learner Tien 6-2, 6-3 in 84 minutes in the semifinal. Nakashima, the 28th seed, reached his first career Masters 1000 final after defeating Rafael Jodar in straight sets.
The match adds a deeper layer to an already compelling storyline: Shelton has not dropped a set all tournament and has won 11 consecutive matches at the National Bank Open dating back to his 2025 title run. He leads the head-to-head against Nakashima 5-0, having won 11 of 12 sets in prior meetings. For Nakashima, the final represents his first chance at a title above the ATP 250 level.
Shelton enters the contest as the strong favorite, a status consistent with his 5-0 record against Nakashima and his dominant form throughout the week. The match is the first all-American ATP Masters 1000 final since 2003 and the 15th such final in series history since 1990, underscoring the significance of the occasion as both players vie for the trophy at IGA Stadium in Montreal.
The final is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET on Centre Court. A winner will be crowned tonight, settling both the tournament title and the lingering question of whether Nakashima can break through against an opponent who has owned their head-to-head history.
