ATP Tour

Nakashima survives dramatic suspension, reaches first Masters 1000 QF

Brandon Nakashima survived a dramatic mid-match suspension on Saturday at the National Bank Open in Montreal, returning to defeat Arthur Rinderknech 7-6(4), 5-7, 7-5 and break new ground.

At 4-4 in the final set of their clash at the Canadian ATP Masters 1000 event, both players were forced off court due to inclement weather. After a one-hour, 46-minute delay, Nakashima returned to close out a clutch victory and book his spot in the quarter-finals, ending a 0-5 record in previous Round-of-16 matches at this level.

“Coming out after the break, I knew I had to get firing right from the beginning because it's going to happen pretty quick,” Nakashima, the No. 31 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, said. “In the first game he hit four big serves. I couldn't do anything there. But I just tried to stay focused and when I had the opportunities, I just tried to go for it.

“I think the level is continuing to grow with each match. Every day it is a new opportunity out here. So [I’m trying] to make the most of it. Super, super happy that it's all paying off.”

Rinderknech held two break points at 3-2 in the final set, during a game in which he scrambled with some dogged defence before mimicking a surf move with his celebration. But he failed to convert either chance, according to Infosys ATP Stats, while Nakashima held firm after the delay to close out the win.

Nakashima will next face Luciano Darderi, who earlier battled past Nuno Borges 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach his 10th quarter-final of the season, becoming the first player to achieve that feat. With his 30th win of the year, the Italian moved level with Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alex de Minaur for the sixth-most on Tour in 2026.