Brandon Nakashima, the 22-year-old American tennis star, has made a remarkable resurgence in the 2024 season. After spending the first two months competing at the ATP Challenger level, Nakashima has regained his form and climbed nearly 50 spots in the rankings.
On Tuesday, Nakashima achieved his biggest win of the season at the ATP 500 Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. He defeated Andrey Rublev, the No. 2 seed, in straight sets (6-4, 7-6 (6)). Nakashima’s victory was particularly impressive considering Rublev’s recent struggles. The Russian has lost eight consecutive sets and has only one win since being disqualified from the Dubai semifinals.
Nakashima’s success in Barcelona is a testament to his hard work and determination. He controlled the match with his backhand crosscourt and mixed it up with slices and drop shots. Despite making only 55% of his first serves, Nakashima was not broken throughout the contest.
Rublev’s frustration was evident as he slammed his racquet to the clay court six times before shaking hands. The world No. 8 has been in a downward spiral since his disqualification in Dubai.
Nakashima’s victory over Rublev is his second Top 10 win, adding to his triumph over Holger Rune in Shanghai in October 2023. The 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals champion has won four of five matches on clay this year.
Other notable results from the Barcelona Open include the upsets of eighth seed Sebastian Baez and 15th seed Borna Coric. Matteo Arnaldi saved four match points to stun Baez, while Facundo Diaz Acosta defeated Coric in straight sets.
Nakashima’s resurgence is a positive sign for American tennis. The young star has the potential to become a top player in the world, and his recent performances suggest that he is on the right track.
