Brandon Nakashima’s good week helps USA prime Davis Cup group in Zhuhai | ATP Tour

Davis Cup Finals Group Stage

Nakashima’s good week helps USA prime group in Zhuhai

32-time champion shall be seeded for November’s Davis Cup knockouts

September 14, 2024

Brandon Nakashima continued his 2024 resurgence in type on Saturday in Zhuhai.

The 23-year-old accomplished an ideal week of singles motion for the USA within the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph in opposition to Maximilian Marterer. Together with his 86-minute win, Nakashima helped his nation earn a 2-1 victory in opposition to Marterer’s Germany, concurrently making certain the USA a first-place end in Group C and a seeding at November’s knockout stage.

Job achieved ✅

United States defeat Germany 2-1 to prime group C in commanding style!#DavisCup pic.twitter.com/3kk4na2cOk

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 14, 2024

“Every individual on this staff brings nice worth,” mentioned Nakashima, who dropped only one set throughout his three wins this week. “All of us prefer to carry out one of the best in one another and to actually get pleasure from each second on the market on the court docket and off the court docket as nicely. I’m actually pleased with everybody’s efficiency this week and to all of the employees and all of the gamers, I actually recognize all their arduous work.

“I believe we’ve likelihood in opposition to any staff there [in Malaga]. There’s a bunch of gifted Individuals taking part in very well proper now. Whoever goes to be on the staff will give us an amazing shot in opposition to some other staff on the market, so it’s positively an thrilling time for American tennis and I’m actually wanting ahead to it.”

After a troublesome 2023, the 2022 Subsequent Gen ATP Finals offered by PIF champion Nakashima started this yr because the World No. 134. He has rediscovered his type in current months, nonetheless, and was competing for USA this week at a career-high No. 40 within the PIF ATP Rankings.

Reilly Opelka set USA on its approach on Saturday in China with a 6-7(4), 7-6(9), 6-3 triumph in opposition to Henri Squire within 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, nonetheless, after Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz downed Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram 6-1, 7-6(4) within the doubles rubber.

“We knew we have been going to the subsequent stage in Malaga, however we used [the chance to achieve] a greater seeding as our motivation to attempt to win immediately,” mentioned Opelka.

Regardless of defeat on Saturday, Germany will be a part of USA within the Davis Cup Ultimate 8 due to victories earlier this week in opposition to Slovakia and Chile. The knockout stage of the 2024 version of the groups’ occasion will happen in Malaga, Spain from 19-24 November.

In Group D, Argentina clinched its tie in opposition to Finland with wins from Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Francisco Cerundolo to choose up its second Davis Cup victory in Manchester.

Etcheverry gained 78 per cent of his first-serve factors in opposition to Eero Vasa en path to a 7-6(5), 6-3 victory. The 25-year-old has gained back-to-back singles victories on the Davis Cup after he defeated Nice Britain’s Daniel Evans earlier within the week.

Cerundolo rallied again to defeat Otto Virtanen 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-0, changing 5 of his 11 break level alternatives. The No. 31 within the PIF ATP Rankings additionally saved 4 break factors as he closed out the match in a single hour, 45 minutes.

In Group A, Brazil sealed its tie in opposition to Belgium in Bologna to maintain alive its hopes of constructing the Ultimate 8. However it’s destiny rests within the palms of The Netherlands, which can be a part of Italy in Malaga ought to it defeat the defending champion Sunday, or it it avoids a 3-0 loss.

#NextGenATP teen Joao Fonseca, who made his Davis Cup debut earlier this week in opposition to Italy, claimed a 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-3 win over Raphael Collignon to safe consecutive wins following his straight-set victory over Botic van de Zandschulp on Thursday.

The 18-year-old, who at the moment sits sixth within the PIF ATP Stay Race to Jeddah, hit 19 winners and 7 aces as he battled previous 22-year-old Collignon in a single hour, 51 minutes. 

30-year-old Thiago Monteiro outlasted Zizou Bergs, recovering from a set all the way down to win 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 in two hours, 44 minutes. The tight match was underlined by the slim factors totals, with Monteiro profitable only one much less level than his opponent.

Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen earned a degree for Belgium with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over Felipe Meligeni Alves and Rafael Matos.

In Group B, France secured its tie in opposition to Czechia in Valencia.

#NextGenATP expertise Jakub Mensik bought Czechia off to a profitable begin by rallying again in opposition to Arthur Rinderknech 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 within the opening singles match. The 19-year-old, who sits fourth within the PIF ATP Stay Race to Jeddah, fired 14 aces to win in two hours, two minutes. He misplaced his earlier singles match to Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis on Thursday.

Within the following singles match, #NextGenATP Frenchman Arthur Fils leveled the tie by defeating Jiri Lehecka 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4. The 20-year-old, taking part in his third singles match this week, sits atop the PIF ATP Stay Race to Jeddah. He hit 13 aces and 16 winners to win in opposition to the 22-year-old Czech.

The doubles match between France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Rinderknech and Czechia’s Mensik and Adam Pavlasek determined the tie. The Frenchmen defeated their opponents 7-6 (4), 7-5. The pair wanted a single break level to win the competition in a single hour, 27 minutes.