Brandon Nakashima (born 3 August 2001) is an American professional tennis player.
Nakashima has a career high ATP singles ranking of World No. 83 achieved on 23 August 2021. On the junior tour, he has a career high ITF junior combined ranking of No. 3 achieved on 31 December 2018. He has won two ITF singles title to date and two ATP Challenger titles.
Nakashima graduated from high school a semester early, before enrolling at the University of Virginia in January 2019 at the age of 17. 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. After one semester he decided to forgo his remaining years of eligibility and turn professional.
Later in the year at the US Open (his Grand Slam main draw debut as a wildcard), Nakashima defeated Paolo Lorenzi[4] before being beaten by 5th seed and eventual runner-up, Alexander Zverev.[5]
2021: First and Second ATP final, Top 100 debut[]
Nakashima qualified into a Grand Slam main draw for the first time at Wimbledon.[6][7] He lost in the first round to compatriot and 31st seed, Taylor Fritz.[8]
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.[12] As a result of this good run, Nakashima cracked the top 100 for the first time, coming in at world No. 89 on 2 August 2021, a day before his 20th birthday.[13]
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.
Performance timeline[]
Key
W
F
SF
QF
#R
RR
Q#
P#
DNQ
A
Z#
PO
G
F-S
SF-B
NMS
P
NH
(W) Won; (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, (F-S) silver or (SF-B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; a (NMS) downgraded Masters Series/1000 tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.