Brandon Nakashima continued his 2024 resurgence in style on Saturday in Zhuhai.
The 23-year-old completed a perfect week of singles action for the USA in the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph against Maximilian Marterer. With his 86-minute win, Nakashima helped his country earn a 2-1 victory against Marterer’s Germany, simultaneously ensuring the USA a first-place finish in Group C and a seeding at November’s knockout stage.
“Each person on this team brings great value,” said Nakashima, who dropped just one set across his three wins this week. “We all like to bring out the best in each other and to really enjoy every second out there on the court and off the court as well. I’m really happy with everyone’s performance this week and to all the staff and all the players, I really appreciate all their hard work.
“I think we have a good chance against any team there [in Malaga]. There’s a bunch of talented Americans playing really well right now. Whoever is going to be on the team will give us a great shot against any other team out there, so it’s definitely an exciting time for American tennis and I’m really looking forward to it.”
After a difficult 2023, the 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion Nakashima began this year as the World No. 134. He has rediscovered his form in recent months, however, and was competing for USA this week at a career-high No. 40 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
Reilly Opelka set USA on its way on Saturday in China with a 6-7(4), 7-6(9), 6-3 triumph against Henri Squire in the opening singles rubber. The 32-time Davis Cup champion was unable to make it a hat-trick of 3-0 wins in Group C, however, after Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz downed Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram 6-1, 7-6(4) in the doubles rubber.
“We knew we were going to the next stage in Malaga, but we used [the chance to achieve] a better seeding as our motivation to try and win today,” said Opelka.
Despite defeat on Saturday, Germany will join USA in the Davis Cup Final 8 thanks to victories earlier this week against Slovakia and Chile. The knockout stage of the 2024 edition of the teams’ event will take place in Malaga, Spain from 19-24 November.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]
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