Nakashima shines with Medjedovic win on Almaty debut
Brandon Nakashima prevailed in a hard-fought battle between former Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champions on Tuesday at the Almaty Open.
The fifth-seeded American downed Hamad Medjedovic 7-6(5), 6-2 on his debut at the indoor hard-court ATP 250. With his 83-minute victory, Nakashima improved to 31-25 for season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. The 24-year-old has more tour-level wins this season than any other player outside the Top 20 besides Francisco Cerundolo (35).
Rock solid from start to finish 👊
[5] @b_nakashima takes down Medjedovic 7-6(5) 6-2 to mark his Almaty debut in style@AlmatyOpen_KZ | #AlmatyOpen pic.twitter.com/4DdfsuC75N— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 14, 2025
Nakashima (who won the 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Milan) and Medjedovic (who triumphed in 2024 in Jeddah) were meeting for the second consecutive year at an indoor ATP 250 event. Medjedovic triumphed in the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash in Belgrade a year ago, but Nakashima levelled at 1-1 with a rock-solid performance in Almaty.
“It feels great, it’s my first time here in Kazakhstan and I’m loving it,” Nakashima said. “It’s always good to get through the first round, so I’m really happy. It’s something you have to get used to [the conditions], but luckily was able to get here pretty early so I was able to get some good practice on the courts.”
The World No. 34 won 80 per cent (35/44) of points behind his first serve and converted two of four break points he earned to set a second-round meeting with Fabian Marozsan in Almaty. Nakashima is now 11-1 in his past 12 opening rounds on hard courts.
Alexander Shevchenko sent his home fans into a frenzy by converting his fifth match point to defeat Laslo Djere 7-6(1), 7-6(12) after a thrilling end to their first-round encounter. The Kazakhstani No. 2 saved four set points, including three in the second-set tie-break to prevail after two hours, six minutes.
Shevchenko, who is now 4-3 in Almaty after reaching last year’s quarter-final, will next face eighth seed Corentin Moutet.
Earlier, Australians Aleksandar Vukic, Rinky Hijikata and Adam Walton all progressed after three-set wins. Vukic downed qualifier Marko Topo 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, while lucky loser Hijkata overcame home hope Timofey Skatov 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3.
Walton defeated countryman Tristan Schoolkate 7-6(4), 6-7(3), 6-2 to set a meeting with second seed and former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev.
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