Cincinnati Open: Nakashima knocks out former champion Medvedev

Brandon Nakashima delivered a stunning upset at the Cincinnati Open, battling back to defeat former champion Daniil Medvedev after saving three match points. The American secured his spot in the fourth round with a hard-fought 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-1 victory in a match that stretched over two hours and 51 minutes.

Serving at 4-5 in the second set, Nakashima faced a critical 0/40 deficit but maintained remarkable composure. He showcased exceptional ball-striking and fearless play, ultimately turning the momentum in his favor against the highly decorated Russian player. This dramatic turnaround prevented an early exit and propelled him into the deciding third set.

Nakashima's impressive run at the Cincinnati tournament follows a breakthrough performance at the Montreal Masters 1000, where he reached his first final. He also made a semifinal appearance in Washington earlier this month. These consistent strong results have propelled the 23-year-old American to a career-high ATP ranking of world number 22.

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Down match points, I was just trying to tell myself to keep fighting for every point. If he is able to close it out there, then too good. I just kept fighting and managed to get it to a third set. I am super happy with the level in the third.

Reflecting on his resilience, Nakashima stated, "Down match points, I was just trying to tell myself to keep fighting for every point. If he is able to close it out there, then too good. I just kept fighting and managed to get it to a third set. I am super happy with the level in the third." He added, "Throughout these matches, there's always ups and downs, times where I'm not feeling as good, but I just try to stick through every moment and keep fighting."

Nakashima's path in the next round will be against Nuno Borges. Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz also advanced, defeating Daniel Merida and setting up a match against Christopher O'Connell.

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Throughout these matches, there's always ups and downs, times where I'm not feeling as good, but I just try to stick through every moment and keep fighting.