Alexander Zverev vs Brandon Nakashima – Breakdown and Prediction

Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA By Icon Sport

Alexander Zverev vs Brandon Nakashima: US Open – Round of 16

The 2020 finalist Alexander Zverev will face Brandon Nakashima in the round of 16 of the US Open.

 

Alexander Zverev Profile

Alexander Zverev is currently fourth in the ATP rankings, two spots lower than his career high. The German is 55-16 for the season and 26-8 on hard surface.

Zverev is coming off a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-3 win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round of the tournament. Previously, he defeated Alexandre Muller and Maximillian Marterer.

Zverev won the title in Rome this season.

His best result at the US Open was the final in 2020 where he lost to Dominic Thiem.

 

Brandon Nakashima Profile

Brandon Nakashima is 50th in the ATP rankings, seven spots lower than his career high. The American is 54-24 for the season and 21-8 on hard surface.

Nakashima is coming off a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 win over Lorenzo Musetti in the third round following wins over Arthur Cazaux and Holger Rune.

Nakashima won the Challenger in Tenerife this season.

This is the first time he made it past the third round at the US Open.

 

Head-to-Head

  • Zverev vs Nakashima 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2022 French Open, third round)
  • Zverev vs Nakashima 7-5, 6-7, 6-3, 6-1 (2020 US Open, second round)

 

Prediction and Conclusion

With Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz out, Alexander Zverev is one of the favorites to win the US Open, which could be his first Grand Slam title. However, the German has a lot of work left, and his next opponent is Brandon Nakashima. The American is the biggest surprise this season in New York, not just because he made it this far but also because of the manner in which he won the previous three matches. Still, Zverev is a much better player, and he will use his experience and quality to win this one by covering the -1.5-set spread.