Nakashima Primed for First Career Title in San Diego
By Jake Scudder
You could argue that American Brandon Nakashima has been flying under the radar to this point. The 21 year old, currently ranked 69th in the world, has quietly been putting together a game that can challenge the best in men’s tennis. As a Junior, Nakashima showed glimpses of his potential, ranking as high as number 3 in the world junior rankings. He won two titles on the ITF circuit and went on to win the season ending tournament involving the best young players in 2018.
His first appearance in the main draw of an ATP event took place in Delray Beach in 2020. A teenager at the time, Nakashima received a wildcard into the event, and he seized the opportunity. Nakashima made a deep run at the tournament by beating respected tour players, Jiri Vesely and Brit Cam Norrie, on his way to a quarter-final appearance. Nakashima came up against Japanese star, Yoshihito Nishioka, in a match that he demanded the very best from his opponent, but ultimately coming up short 3-6 7-6 6-4.
2021 was the year where the name Brandon Nakashima was starting to pop up in conversations across the tennis world. I recall sitting down to watch the ATP Los Cabos event in Mexico and noticed American Sam Querry’s match was next to play. His opponent, Brandon Nakashima, a player whose name was new to me, and a player that I thought would really struggle with the Querry serve that he was about to face.
I was wrong… Nakashima announced himself on the ATP tour during the week’s run to the final in Los Cabos. Not only did he surprise me with his stellar play, but he surprised tour veterans Sam Querrey and John Isner, and even saved 3 match points in the quarter-final appearance against Australian Jordan Thompson. The fairytale run in Mexico came to an end at the hands of Cam Norrie, a player who was in career best form upon reflecting on that period of time. Norrie was a force to be reckoned with in the final, winning comfortably in straight sets 6-2 6-2 – a valuable experience and lesson for Nakashima on the big stage.
The 2022 season has seen Nakashima develop into an established tour player, having appeared in 5 ATP quarter-final matches over the 2022 season to date. But this week in his hometown of San Diego, California, Nakashima has the chance to win his first ATP Tour title. An opportunity which has unfolded favourably for the young American, he enters the tournament 2nd favourite with bookmakers, only behind world number 25, Dan Evans. Having beaten fellow American Zachary Svajda in the first round, Nakashima should be feeling confident in his own abilities this week in San Diego. The experience he has gained, and development he has shown this season, is proof that a maiden ATP title is within grasp.
In my opinion, the stars have aligned perfectly for Nakashima. On paper he is the best player in this draw along with Dan Evans. Evans may have the higher ranking, but I would argue Nakashimas game is more well rounded and that he’s the most dangerous player in this draw. If we do happen to see a Nakashima and Evans final, their previous meeting could be a glimpse of what may eventuate. The pair played each other last year at the ATP Washington event, which Nakashima won 7-6 6-0; the match being played on the hard court which is also the surface here in San Diego this week.
It’s hard not to look too far ahead for Nakashima. A player in good form with a favourable draw, in his hometown chasing his first ATP title, sounds like the script of a fairytale.