Brandon Nakashima (born August 3, 2001) is an American professional tennis player. He has been ranked as high as world No. 35 in singles by the ATP, which he achieved on September 30, 2024. On June 10, 2024, he reached a career-high doubles ranking of No. 240.[1]
Nakashima won the 2022 Next Generation ATP Finals.
As a junior, Nakashima was ranked as high as No. 3 in the world. In 2018, he won two titles on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior circuit and went on to win that year's ITF Junior Masters, the year-end tournament for the top-ranked junior singles players.
Collegiate career
Nakashima at the USTA 18s Nationals in 2018
Nakashima graduated from high school, High Bluff Academy in San Diego, a semester early, before enrolling at the University of Virginia in January 2019 at the age of 17 to play collegiate tennis. During his time at UVA, he finished the season with a 17–5 record in singles and 20–3 record in doubles. At the end of the season he received the ACC-Freshman of the Year and All-ACC First Team awards and was also a part of the All-ACC Academic Team.[2] After one semester he decided to forgo his remaining years of eligibility and turn professional.
Later in the year, on his Grand Slam main draw debut as a wildcard at the US Open, Nakashima defeated Paolo Lorenzi[5] before being beaten by fifth seed and eventual runner-up, Alexander Zverev.[6]
Nakashima qualified into a Grand Slam main draw for the first time at Wimbledon.[7][8][9] He lost in the first round to compatriot and 31st seed, Taylor Fritz.[10]
A week later in Atlanta, Nakashima reached his second final in as many weeks but lost to 6th seed John Isner in the championship match.[14] As a result of this good run, Nakashima cracked the top 100 for the first time, coming in at world No. 89 on August 2, 2021, a day before his 20th birthday.[15]
As a qualifier at the 2021 European Open, he reached the quarterfinals where he lost to Diego Schwartzman.[16] As a result, he reached a new career-high ranking of No. 70 on October 25, 2021.
At the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, he reached the fourth round of a Major for the first time in his career defeating Daniel Elahi Galán.[23] He lost a tight five-set contest to eventual runner-up Nick Kyrgios.[24] He reached the top 50 on July 11, 2022, at world No. 49.
He received a wildcard for the Cincinnati Open.
At the next Masters in Shanghai on his debut, he reached the third round for the first time in his career at this ATP level, defeating world No. 4 and third seed Holger Rune for his maiden top-10 and top-5 win.[31] Despite this result he fell out of the top 150 on October 30. 2023.
2024: US Open fourth round, top 35
He returned to the top 100 at No. 96 on January 29, 2024 following a title at the 2024 Tenerife Challenger, in Spain.[1]
At the 2024 BOSS Open in Stuttgart, he reached the semifinals defeating seventh seed Jan-Lennard Struff by walkover and returned to the top 65 in the rankings on June 17, 2024. He lost to eventual champion Jack Draper.[40] At the next grass tournament the following week, the 2024 Queen's Club Championships, he defeated wildcard Dan Evans by retirement, using special exempt to enter the main draw. He also reached the third round at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships upsetting 18th seed Sebastian Baez and defeating Jordan Thompson. As a result, he returned to the top 55 in the rankings on July 15, 2024.[41]
Following the 2024 National Bank Open, he reached back the top 50 in the rankings on August 12, 2024. He recorded a first round win at this Masters over local wildcard Denis Shapovalov and an upset over the tenth seed, Tommy Paul, to reach the round of 16 as a qualifier, only his second third round at a Masters level.
He received a wildcard for the main draw of the next Masters 1000, his home tournament, the 2024 Cincinnati Open. He reached back-to-back rounds of 16 with upsets over 11th seed Taylor Fritz and Arthur Fils.
At the 2024 US Open, he reached the fourth round for a second time at a Grand Slam with an upset over 15th seed Holger Rune, Arthur Cazaux[42] and 18th seed Lorenzo Musetti,[43] before his run was ended by 4th seed Alexander Zverev.[44] As a result, he moved into the top 40 in the rankings on September 9, 2024.
At the 2024 Hangzhou Open he reached his 14th ATP Tour quarterfinal, saving two match points against qualifier Coleman Wong.[45] Next, he defeated Rinky Hijikata to reach his sixth ATP tour semifinal and second for 2024.[46] Nakashima lost in the last four to eventual champion Marin Čilić.[47] At the next Asian swing tournament, the 2024 Japan Open Tennis Championships, he continued his good form, defeating seventh seed Frances Tiafoe in straight sets in the first round.[48] Nakashima lost to Ugo Humbert in the second round.[49]
Nakashima excelled in singles play for the Smash and also paired up with Rajeev Ram throughout the season in men's doubles to help Chicago earn a No. 2 seed in WTT Playoffs. The Smash defeated the Orlando Storm to earn a spot in the final, but ultimately fell to the New York Empire in a Supertiebreaker.
Personal life
Nakashima's father is a Japanese American born in California, while his mother was born in Vietnam and moved to California at age 5.[51][52]
Nakashima's brother, Bryce, is also a professional tennis player. The two paired up in doubles at the 2024 Atlanta Open.
Performance timeline
Key
W
F
SF
QF
#R
RR
Q#
P#
DNQ
A
Z#
PO
G
S
B
NMS
NTI
P
NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier I tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.
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