By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday November 12, 2022
Brandon Nakashima completed an undefeated run at the Next Gen ATP Finals, defeating Jiri Lehecka in straight sets in the final.
Photo Source: TTV
Brandon Nakashima, making his second appearance at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan, showed up on a mission and didn’t waver. When all was said and done, the 21-year-old American emerged as the first American champion, delivering a 4-3(5), 4-3(6), 4-2 win over Jiri Lehecka to take the crown on Saturday.
“I’m so happy right now,” Nakashima said after his victory. “It was a great tournament this whole week and in this final, another tough match, just a few points here and – it could have gone either way, but I'm happy with my level today. I couldn't think of a better way to finish off the year.”
49th-ranked Nakashima becomes the fifth champion in the tournament’s history, joining a heady group of past champions that includes current World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz. All of the previous four champions in Milan have gone on to reach at least the top-20, with three cracking the Top-10.
Next Gen ATP Finals, Past Champions
2017 - Hyeon Chung, career-high No.19
2018 - Stefanos Tsitsipas, career-high No.3
2019 - Jannik Sinner, career-high No.9
2021 - Carlos Alcaraz, career-high No.1
Nakashima defeated Lehecka for the second time this week, and he needed to battle through tough moments in the first and second set to get there. He rallied from a break down in the opener before taking the set in a tiebreak.
In the second set the American saved a pair of set points from 6-4 down in the tiebreak, reeling off the final four points of the set.
In the final set, Nakashima broke Lehecka in the final game to avoid a third tiebreak.
He was calm under pressure throughout, no matter the situation.
“It’s a final, obviously there's going to be some pressure moments,” he said. “Definitely some nerves coming out in the beginning but I'm happy that I was able to turn it around quickly, find my game and close it out in the end.”
Nakashima went 8-1 in tiebreaks over the course of his five wins in Milan.
He will take home a tournament-record $432,750 as an undefeated champion.
“It feels amazing. You know, being an American, being able to come here and play in Milan, it's the best feeling in the world. So happy you know to take it back to the US and I'm gonna go home now and enjoy some time off.”