Brandon Nakashima: The Unsung American Tennis Star

Brandon Nakashima: The Unsung American Tennis Star

Brandon Nakashima, the 23-year-old American tennis prodigy, has quietly emerged as a force to be reckoned with on the ATP Tour. Despite a recent slump that saw him drop out of the Top 50, Nakashima has regained his form and is now poised to make a significant impact at the US Open.

Nakashima’s journey to the top has been marked by both triumphs and setbacks. In 2022, he won his first ATP title in San Diego and reached the third round of the French Open. However, injuries and a lack of match play hindered his progress in 2023.

Undeterred, Nakashima assembled a new coaching team led by former Top 50 pro David Sanguinetti. Together, they devised a strategy to rebuild his confidence and match fitness. Nakashima spent the first half of 2023 competing in Challenger events, where he amassed a 26-8 record.

The hard work paid off. Nakashima regained his rhythm on the hard courts, reaching the third round at Wimbledon and posting impressive wins over Top 25 opponents, including Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul. His resurgence has propelled him back into the Top 50.

Nakashima’s success is a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite falling through the cracks of the tennis hype machine, he has quietly worked his way back into contention. With his powerful backhand and all-American spirit, Nakashima is poised to make a deep run at the US Open and establish himself as one of the most exciting young players in the game.

Nakashima Downs Fritz in Cincinnati Thriller

Nakashima Downs Fritz in Cincinnati Thriller

Brandon Nakashima continued his impressive run at the Cincinnati Open on Tuesday night, defeating fellow American Taylor Fritz in a thrilling three-set battle. The 23-year-old Nakashima, who ousted Tommy Paul in the round of 16, prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (4) over the 11th-seeded Fritz.

The match was a tight affair, with each player breaking serve just once. Nakashima seized the initiative in the decisive tiebreaker, moving ahead 3-2 with a pair of crafty passes that forced Fritz into errors. The former world No. 43 then backed up the mini break with an ace and an unreturnable serve.

Nakashima sealed the victory when Fritz’s backhand found the net, improving his record to 16-14 in tour-level encounters this season. Fritz, who is heading to the US Open with one win at the past two 1000-level tournaments, will be looking to regain his form before the final Grand Slam of the year.

In other first-round action, No. 12 seed Ben Shelton edged Reilly Opelka in a pair of tiebreakers, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3). Shelton withstood 19 aces from his compatriot and saved all five break points he faced.

Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen also advanced to the second round with victories in their respective matches.

On the women’s side, Ashlyn Krueger pulled off an upset by defeating Olympic silver medalist and No. 16 seed Donna Vekic, 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-2. Krueger, who also qualified in Toronto last week, had previously defeated four-time major winner Naomi Osaka to book her main-draw spot in Cincinnati.

Fritz and Paul Shine in National Bank Open Openers

Fritz and Paul Shine in National Bank Open Openers

Fritz and Paul Triumph in National Bank Open Openers

MONTREAL, Canada – Olympic doubles bronze medalists Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul kicked off their National Bank Open campaigns with impressive singles victories on Wednesday.

Fritz, seeded ninth, dispatched Mariano Navone of Argentina 6-4, 6-1 in a dominant display. The American controlled the match from the outset, breaking Navone’s serve twice in the first set and cruising through the second.

“It was a solid match,” Fritz said. “I feel like the level, probably from both of us, went up a bit in the second set. We started playing longer points.”

Fritz will face fellow American Sebastian Korda in the second round. Korda, fresh off his second ATP Tour title in Washington, advanced when Vasek Pospisil retired due to a back injury.

Paul, seeded 10th, also secured a straight-sets victory, defeating Luciano Darderi of Italy 6-4, 7-6 (2). Paul broke Darderi’s serve in the opening game and held on to his advantage throughout the match.

“I’m happy with the way I played,” Paul said. “I served well and was able to control the points. I’m looking forward to the next round.”

Paul will face qualifier Brandon Nakashima in the second round. Nakashima, who upset Canadian wild-card Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 7-5, is coming off a strong performance in Washington, where he reached the semifinals.

Other Americans who advanced on Wednesday included Ben Shelton and Nakashima. Shelton, seeded 11th, edged doubles partner Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, while Nakashima beat Shapovalov.

Flavio Cobolli of Italy, who lost to Korda in the DC Open final on Sunday, upset 14th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 6-3, 6-2.

Nakashima Stuns Rublev in Barcelona, Continues Resurgence

Nakashima Stuns Rublev in Barcelona, Continues Resurgence

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.

Sunshine Swing Kicks Off with Kerber, Martic, and American Clash

Sunshine Swing Kicks Off with Kerber, Martic, and American Clash

The Sunshine Swing kicks off with a captivating clash between two seasoned groundstrokers, Angelique Kerber and Petra Martic. Despite only meeting thrice, their last encounter was a decade ago. Kerber, a former world number one, seeks a significant result since her return from motherhood. Martic, known for her resilience, has been consistent in recent seasons.

In another intriguing matchup, American Christopher Eubanks faces rising star Brandon Nakashima. Eubanks, with a 1-3 record on hard courts this season, faces an uphill battle against Nakashima’s impressive 8-2 record. Both players possess powerful serves and anticipate momentum shifts, promising an intense three-set thriller.

Camila Giorgi and Katie Boulter, two evenly matched players, will meet for the first time. Boulter, fresh from her WTA 500 victory, faces a stern test against Giorgi’s aggressive style. Both players have struggled to overcome the hurdle of 1000s and Grand Slams, making this encounter a crucial test of their mental fortitude and ability to handle the pressure of the desert sun.

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