Nakashima Steadies Season in Almaty Debut
Under the lights of a new indoor hard-court stage, Brandon Nakashima flipped a prior loss into straight-sets satisfaction against Hamad Medjedovic, easing the grind of a middling campaign with tactical poise.
On the brisk indoor hard courts of the Almaty Open, Brandon Nakashima faced Hamad Medjedovic in a rematch carrying echoes of their Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF triumphs—his own in 2023 Milan, the Serb’s fresh from 2024 Jeddah. The fifth-seeded American, stepping into Kazakhstan for the first time, navigated a tight opener before pulling away 7-6(5), 6-2 in 83 minutes, evening their head-to-head at 1-1 after Medjedovic’s edge in Belgrade last year. This victory lifts Nakashima to 31-25 on the season, a tally that outpaces every player outside the Top 20 except Francisco Cerundolo‘s 35.
Tiebreak forges mental edge
The first set simmered with baseline exchanges, Nakashima landing 80 percent of his first serves—35 of 44 points—to dictate tempo and force Medjedovic into crosscourt loops that tested the American’s footwork. As the tiebreak arrived, opening-round stakes sharpened the air, but he seized a 7-5 lead by capitalizing on a down-the-line forehand that clipped the line, his composure echoing an 11-1 streak in recent hard-court debuts.
Medjedovic pressed with inside-in forehands, aiming to disrupt rhythm, yet Nakashima‘s steady returns kept the pressure reversed, turning the set’s tension into a launchpad for the match.
“It feels great, it’s my first time here in Kazakhstan and I’m loving it,” Nakashima said. “It’s always good to get through the first round, so I’m really happy. It’s something you have to get used to [the conditions], but luckily was able to get here pretty early so I was able to get some good practice on the courts.”
Rock solid from start to finish
[5] @b_nakashima takes down Medjedovic 7-6(5) 6-2 to mark his Almaty debut in style@AlmatyOpen_KZ | #AlmatyOpen pic.twitter.com/4DdfsuC75N— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 14, 2025
Breaks unlock second-set control
With momentum secured, Nakashima converted two of four break points in the second, targeting Medjedovic’s second serve with deep, angled returns that invited errors and opened the court for inside-out winners. His flat groundstrokes thrived in the low-bouncing indoor conditions, weaving one–two combinations that stretched the Serb from sideline to sideline, sealing a decisive pull-away.
At World No. 34, this performance not only highlighted his adaptation to the surface’s skid but also positioned him for a second-round test against Fabian Marozsan, where sustained depth could extend his Almaty stay.
Local fire and aussie grit ignite draw
Alexander Shevchenko sparked delirium among home fans, saving four set points—including three in the second tiebreak—to edge Laslo Djere 7-6(1), 7-6(12) on his fifth match point after two hours and six minutes, his underspin backhands flipping defense into attack. Now 4-3 lifetime at the event following last year’s quarterfinal, the Kazakhstani No. 2 draws crowd energy into a matchup with eighth seed Corentin Moutet.
Australians added resolve elsewhere, Aleksandar Vukic grinding past qualifier Marko Topo 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 by tightening his serve in the decider. Rinky Hijikata, as lucky loser, outlasted home hope Timofey Skatov 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3 with persistent returns, while Adam Walton topped countryman Tristan Schoolkate 7-6(4), 6-7(3), 6-2, lining up against second seed and former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in a clash where power meets precision. These early battles underscore Almaty’s blend of resilience and rivalry, with Nakashima’s poise signaling potential for a season-turning push as the indoor swing heats up on October 14, 2025.
