OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 11, 2026

Luciano Darderi

Mixed Zone

B. NAKASHIMA/L. Darderi

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Hello, Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to the press conference of Brandon Nakashima. Congratulations on winning your match today. You're now into your first Masters semifinal, which is amazing. So can you please give us your thoughts on the match today?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: Yeah. First of all, super happy with making my first semifinal. It was a goal of mine at the beginning of the year to try to do well at one of these Masters 1000s tournaments. So, yeah, to be able to do it the for first time here is really special.

THE MODERATOR: Any questions?

Q. Pretty quick match. Just what are your thoughts on it? And do you feel like you're building up throughout the week? What's your level of comfortable right now and looking forward also?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: Yeah, I mean, obviously was coming into the tournament with a lot of confidence, especially after Washington.

So, yeah, I knew I had to put together some good matches in the early rounds to have a chance to go deep in the tournament and kind of, you know, got through some tight three-setters to get to this point.

So, yeah, was very happy with the performance today. So luckily I didn't have to go three sets.

Q. Brandon, second semifinals in a row. You've had a really good week, in Washington and now in Montreal. Do you think there's like an element in your game that is clicking since like the two or three last weeks?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: I mean, obviously my serve and my forehand, I think, has been really in form the last couple weeks. It's something that we've been working on a lot with my team and everybody.

But obviously just the overall level of confidence, I think, is really high right now. Mentally, going into every match knowing that I can do well and I can play aggressive, I'll give myself a good chance to win the match. So, yeah, really happy about all of that.

Q. Hi, you said it was a goal for you to reach the semifinals, but at the beginning of the tournament did you think it was possible to reach this here in Montreal?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: Yeah. I mean, beginning of the tournament I knew I had a good chance to make a deep run. Whether it was quarters, semis, finals, I knew I was playing a really good level of tennis coming into the tournament.

So, yeah, just really happy that all the hard work is paying off.

Q. At 25 you're kind of the grandfather of this tournament. So how much are you surprised by that fact, everybody is younger?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: Yeah, I mean, it was actually my birthday the day before the tournament started. So being 25 and now being one of the oldest people left in the draw, I mean, it's nice to see the younger generation doing well.

At the same time, I mean, I'm not -- I feel like I'm not one of the younger players on the tour anymore. I feel like, you know, I've been on the tour for five, six years now. So definitely have a lot of experience.

So, yeah, it's nice to finally go deep in these big tournaments.

Q. I was wondering how your energy levels are doing after two tournaments, getting to the final stages, and considering there is Cincinnati and then the US Open coming right after.

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: Yeah. I mean, overall body has been feeling pretty good the last few weeks. Obviously it's been a lot of matches, a lot of tennis for me. So there is a little bit of soreness here and there, maybe feel a little bit tired some days. But I mean, overall my body has been feeling pretty good.

I've been feeling good out there on the court, moving well, and, yeah, I just have to lock in for a couple more matches.

Q. Looking ahead, if it's possible, you are going to face the winner of Fils and Jodar. Can you comment on both of the players, what you expect from them?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: Yeah. I mean, both players, very powerful, explosive players. Rafa, I mean, he's a good friend of mine. So it's been amazing to see his rise to the top and becoming one of the best players in the world right now.

And Arthur, he's a little bit older, and we played each other a few times already, so kind of know his game a little bit more.

But, I mean, the year he's had has been amazing, and obviously both of them are playing at a really high level now. So it's going to be a tough one for me for sure.

Q. Obviously you were supposed to play last night, but obviously with the rain, moved to today. I'm just curious how, if anything, that altered or impacted how you were able to kind of prepare or get ready or mentally, physically for the match?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: I mean, not too much, I would say. I think being able to play during the day today, the conditions helped me a little bit more.

Kind of sped up the pace of play, and compared to the night, it kind of slows down a little bit. So maybe it helped me on the serve a little bit today.

But, I mean, going into the match, I mean, kind of same preparations and everything. Not much difference to it.

Q. Nice win today. I'm wondering compared to like the rest of the 1000s you've played in your career how different or if the energy feels different at all, like around the locker room with it just being kind of the young guys or even around the grounds you've noticed anything, just without there being the established like super Grand Slam, like do you notice anything?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: I mean, for me, not too much, I would say. I'm pretty friendly with all the guys in the locker room and stuff. So it's nice to see the younger generation, of course, doing well.

Yeah, I mean, even the older guys, maybe they didn't do well at this tournament, but I mean, you still see them at all the other bigger tournaments going deep. So it's always nice to see all the guys.