Brandon Nakashima’s perfect week puts USA in first place in Zhuhai Davis Cup group | ATP Tour | Tennis

Davis Cup Finals Group Stage

Nakajima’s perfect week sees USA top group in Zhuhai

The 32-time champion will be seeded into the Davis Cup finals in November.

September 14, 2024

Brandon Nakashima continued his 2024 comeback in style on Saturday in Zhuhai.

The 23-year-old Nakashima defeated Maximilian Marterer 6-4, 6-2 to cap a perfect week in singles for the United States in the group stage of the Davis Cup finals. Nakashima’s 86-minute victory gave the U.S. a 2-1 victory over Marterer’s Germany, clinching the top spot in Group C for the U.S. and earning a seeding into the knockout stage in November.

Job completed ✅

The United States beat Germany 2-1 to take the lead in Group C!#DavisCup pic.twitter.com/3kk4na2cOk

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 14, 2024

“Each member of the team brings great value,” said Nakashima, who won three matches this week and dropped just one set. “We all want to bring out the best in each other and really enjoy every moment on and off the court. I’m really happy with everyone’s performance this week, and I’d like to sincerely thank the entire staff and all the players for their efforts.”

“I think we have a chance to win against any team. [in Malaga]”We have a lot of talented American players playing really well right now, and whoever makes the team is going to give them a great opportunity against any other team. So it’s definitely an exciting time for American tennis and I’m really looking forward to it.”

After struggling in 2023, PIF champion Nakashima started the year ranked 134th in the world, but has bounced back in recent months, competing this week for the United States at a career-high 40th in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Riley Opelka beat Henri Squire 6-7 (4), 7-6 (9), 6-3 in the first singles match on Saturday in China to lead the United States to victory. But the 32-time Davis Cup champion couldn’t complete a 3-0 hat trick in Group C as Kevin Krawitz and Tim Putz beat Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram 6-1, 7-6 (4) in doubles.

“I knew I was going to go to the next stage in Malaga, [the chance to achieve] “Being better seeded gave me motivation to win today,” Opelka said.

Despite Saturday’s loss, Germany will advance to the Davis Cup Final Eight along with the United States thanks to wins over Slovakia and Chile earlier this week. The knockout stages of the team competition for the 2024 edition will be held in Malaga, Spain, from Nov. 19-24.

In Group D, Argentina beat Finland with wins from Tomas Martin Echeverry and Francisco Cernudolo to claim their second Davis Cup title in Manchester.

Etcheverri won 78 percent of his first-serve points in a 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory over Eero Basa. The 25-year-old has won consecutive Davis Cup singles matches since beating Daniel Evans of Great Britain earlier this week.

Cerundolo converted five of 11 break points in his 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-0 victory over Otto Virtanen. The 31st-ranked player in the PIF ATP rankings also saved four break points in the match that took an hour and 45 minutes to close.

In Group A, Brazil play Belgium in Bologna to keep their hopes of reaching the last eight alive, but their fate now rests in the Netherlands, who will face Italy in Malaga if they can beat the defending champions on Sunday or avoid a 3-0 defeat.

#NextGenATP teenager Joan Fonseca, who made his Davis Cup debut against Italy earlier this week, defeated Raphael Collignon 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3 to extend his winning streak, following his straight sets win over Botic van de Zandthurp on Thursday.

The 18-year-old, currently ranked sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Jeddah, hit 19 winners and seven aces to beat the 22-year-old Collignon in one hour and 51 minutes.

Thiago Monteiro, 30, defeated Zizou Bergs, recovering after dropping a set to win 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 in two hours and 44 minutes. Monteiro won just one point less than his opponent, making the match even closer.

Sander Gilles and Goran Vliegen beat Felipe Meligeni Alves and Rafael Matos 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to earn a point for Belgium.

In Group B, France will face the Czech Republic in Valencia.

#NextGenATP talent Jakub Mensik got off to a strong start for the Czech Republic, coming from behind to beat Arthur Rinderknef 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in his opening singles match. The 19-year-old, ranked fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Jeddah, fired 14 aces in two hours and two minutes to win. Mensik lost his previous singles match to Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis on Thursday.

In the next singles match, #NextGenATP French player Arthur Fils defeated Jiri Rehecka 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4 to tie the score. Playing his third singles match this week, the 20-year-old Fils, currently leading the PIF ATP Live Race to Jeddah, hit 13 aces and 16 winners in his victory over the 22-year-old Czech.

The doubles match between Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Linderkunek of France and Mencik and Adam Pavlasek of the Czech Republic came to a close, with the Frenchmen beating their opponents 7-6 (4), 7-5. The pair needed one break point to win the match in one hour and 27 minutes.