Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Nakashima beats Svajda at hometown San Diego ATP 250

2022 US Open - Day 6

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 03: Brandon Nakashima of the United States looks to return a ball against against Jannik Sinner of Italy during their Men’s Singles Third Round match on Day Six of the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 03, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Getty Images

SAN DIEGO -- Fifth-seeded Brandon Nakashima beat fellow San Diegan Zachary Svajda 7-5, 7-6 (5) in their opening-round match at the San Diego Open ATP 250.

The 69th-ranked Nakashima continues to build on a summer that has seen him reach the Round of 16 at Wimbledon and the third round at the U.S. Open.

“It was a very tough match right from the beginning,” said Nakashima, who saved three set points in the second set. “Zach is so talented, striking the ball really well. We’re good friends off the court. We practice a lot together here in San Diego, so I knew it was going to be a tough match today. I was just lucky to grab a few points at the end of each set.”

Next up for Nakashima is Denis Kudla, who beat 38-year-old wildcard Fernando Verdasco of Spain, 6-3, 6-3.

Mitchell Kreuger prevailed in a matchup of qualifiers when he ousted Christopher Eubanks, 6-4, 6-4, in their first tour-level encounter.

Taro Daniel of Japan snapped a four-match skid, moving into the second round with a 6-4, 6-3 victory against 20-year-old Emilio Nava of Woodland Hills.