Brandon Nakashima produced one of the biggest comebacks of the Cincinnati Open so far, saving three match points to defeat former champion Daniil Medvedev and continue his impressive run on the North American hard courts.
Nakashima appeared to be heading out when Medvedev served for the match at 5-4 in the second set. The American fell 0/40 behind, leaving him just one point away from defeat, but he refused to give in.
He fought back to save all three match points and eventually held serve, with each escape showcasing his composure under pressure. On the first, Nakashima moved forward behind a forehand before finishing at the net. He then survived an 18-shot rally to save the second before producing another serve-and-volley play to deny Medvedev for the third time.
"I was just trying to tell myself to keep fighting for every point," Nakashima said.
The dramatic hold proved to be a major turning point. Nakashima went on to dominate the deciding set and complete a 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-1 victory, earning his fifth career win against a Top-10 opponent.
The result continues what has been a breakthrough stretch for the 24-year-old American. Nakashima recently reached his first Masters 1000 final in Montreal after making the semi-finals in Washington, and his strong run has lifted him to a career-high No. 22 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
His victory over Medvedev also moved Nakashima to 20 hard-court wins this season, level with the Russian for second on the ATP Tour behind Jakub Mensik.
"I’m super happy with the level in the third," Nakashima said after completing the comeback.
The American will now face another in-form player in the fourth round, with Nuno Borges waiting on the other side of the net.
Borges also produced an impressive result in Cincinnati by ending his five-match losing streak against Andrey Rublev with a 6-3, 6-4 victory. The Portuguese has now reached the fourth round of a Masters 1000 event for the sixth time in his career.
Elsewhere, Taylor Fritz continued his strong run on home soil by extending his winning streak to seven matches. The Washington ATP 500 champion defeated Spain's Daniel Merida 6-3, 6-4 to reach the Cincinnati round of 16 for the fourth time in five years.
Fritz will next meet Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell, while Nakashima's clash with Borges promises to be another test of the American's growing confidence.
With Nakashima continuing to produce big wins and remain composed in high-pressure moments, his Cincinnati campaign could provide another important step in what is quickly becoming a standout summer for the rising American.
