Rising American star Brandon Nakashima wins first ATP match

On Monday, the first time was the charm for 18-year-old Brandon Nakashima, who defeated Jiri Vesely 7-6 (4), 6-1 to win his first ever ATP Tour match— in his ATP debut in Delray Beach.

Ranked No. 942 in the world in September, the former University of Virginia standout has already jumped to No. 294 and shows no signs of slowing down.

After a sizzling 2019, racking up a 33-14 record on the ITF and ATP Challenger circuits, Nakashima decided to forgo his remaining three years of NCAA eligibility and turn pro.

“Definitely these results have helped me gain a lot of confidence in my game and it shows that I can play with these top guys,” Nakashima told Baseline.

Nakashima grew up idolizing Roger Federer (who didn’t?), but says his game is more like another tennis great. “My game is probably more similar to Novak Djokovic," Nakashima said. "I try and be super solid from the baseline and not give too many errors."

The San Diego native received a well-deserved wild card this week in Delray, where he showcased nerves of steel and was completely unfazed by the big stage. He will face off against either Taylor Fritz or Cameron Norrie on Wednesday.