Jódar, without excuses after losing in Montreal: "Defeats also help to evolve"
Rafa Jódar came close to advancing to his first Masters 1000 final, a prize that was snatched from his hands by a much fresher Brandon Nakashima: "You have to give credit, he was better today."
The 2026 Montreal Masters 1000 saw the last of the Spaniards fall in the competition, Rafa Jódar who pushed himself until his body said enough. However, in the press conference, he didn’t make any excuses, accepting that his opponent was superior and that it was time to think about the next tournament.
That was the other hot topic in the conference room, whether Rafa would be willing to compete in Cincinnati after all he has been through on this summer tour. Well, the intention is to head to Ohio quickly, so the Spaniard still has reserves for one last adventure before the US Open. He can take a lot of good things from Montreal, although it is true that losing a match like this, in his first Masters 1000 semifinal, always stings a bit more in the heat of the moment.
Rafa Jódar reacts to his defeat at ATP Montreal 2026
“I played four matches here in Montreal, so there are many positive things to take from this week. Now it's time to move on because the circuit continues and so do the tournaments. It’s clear that today I didn’t play my best level of tennis, but he also played well. You have to give him credit because he played better than me, especially in the important points of the match, and that’s one of the reasons why he won today.”
No excuses for fatigue
“No, it wasn’t about that. I felt good, I tried to play my game throughout the match, but today it didn’t come out as I wanted. I will try not to make the same mistakes next time; I am sure this match will help me develop. I believe that losses also help players grow.”
A challenging start
“He was playing well, returning well at the beginning of the match, which is why it was difficult for me to find my rhythm today, but that’s part of the game. I saved those break points very well with good points and at a good level of tennis. Then we reached the tiebreak, and that’s what happened; I started to feel better as the match progressed. The big danger with Brandon is that he serves very well, especially in important points. I tried to return as best as I could, but today it didn’t work out as I wanted. You have to give him credit because on this surface, it’s something he can take great advantage of, and from there, he can start points from a much better perspective.”
The warmth of Montreal
“It was a good experience to play in Montreal for the first time; I really liked the audience and the night matches; they were nice for both the players and the spectators. I think there is a good tennis atmosphere in general, and I hope to return in two years because it’s a very nice tournament. Right now, my goal is to be prepared for the next match in Cincinnati."
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jódar, sin excusas tras caer en Montreal: “Las derrotas también ayudan a evolucionar”