The Baseline Player of the Week: Brandon Nakashima

On Sunday, American Brandon Nakashima quietly walked away a champion. The 19-year-old earned his second ATP Challenger title, at the Open Quimper Bretagne Occidentale 2 (say that five times fast). In only 78 minutes, Nakashima defeated Bernabe Zapata.

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The Kings of Quimper ????#NextGenATP ???????? Sebastian Korda and Brandon Nakashima go back-to-back at @OpendeQuimper. pic.twitter.com/nL1XapU3Ds — ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) February 7, 2021

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Nakashima becomes the youngest American (at 19 years and 6 months) to win multiple ATP Challenger Tour titles since Frances Tiafoe in 2016.

"I've been doing a lot of fitness, especially during the offseason," Nakashima said. "That is, to prepare for these exact moments. I'm just happy that it paid off and I was able to play well for all these matches."

Though he lost in the first round of Australian Open qualifying in Doha last month, Nakashima has to be feeling proud of his turnaround. After the great week, he jumped up to a career-high ranking of No. 133.