Medvedev masters Michelsen, earns another Brisbane final shot

  • Posted: Jan 10, 2026

Daniil Medvedev ensured that he will have another shot at glory at the Brisbane International presented by ANZ on Sunday.

The top seed and 2019 runner-up earned a scrappy 6-4, 6-2 semi-final win over American Alex Michelsen on Saturday to reach his 41st tour-level final. Although Medvedev tallied 27 unforced errors, he clinically saved all four break points he faced in the second set, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to break his tie with Alexander Zverev for the second most finals among active players, trailing only Novak Djokovic (144).

“It was not easy at all. The score doesn’t completely reflect the match,” said Medvedev, the former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. “But I’m happy that in the most important moments, I managed to be better than Alex. That’s what you have to do to win the match.”

Medvedev’s encouraging end to the 2025 season, highlighted by consecutive semi-finals in Beijing and Shanghai before snapping his 15-month title drought in Almaty, has laid the groundwork for a positive start to 2026. He will take a 2-0 Lexus ATP Head2Head lead into Sunday’s final against another American Brandon Nakashima.

Earlier, Nakashima moved past good friend Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-6(4), 6-4 to reach his fourth ATP Tour final, and first since winning his maiden title at home in San Diego in 2022. The American has not dropped a set across his four matches in Brisbane this week.

“Aleks and I are actually really good friends, we practised a lot the past month, so it’s great to see him playing well at these tournaments,” Nakashima said of his countryman. “For me, I’m really happy with the level I played today and I’m excited to keep playing here in Brisbane.”

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