“My goals for next year are to break into the top 25 or 30 and go deep at all of the Grand Slams” – Nakashima
The 21-year-old won his first ATP singles title and reached the last 16 at a Major for the first time in 2022
Brandon Nakashima at the 2022 Florence Open
Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic
After enjoying his most successful season on the tour during which he made his debut into the top 50, American Brandon Nakashima has his eyes set on climbing up the ranks and going deeper at the Grand Slams in 2023.
Nakashima ended the season ranked No 47 in the world, up from No 68 at the start of the year, thanks to his first career title at the ATP San Diego Open, reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon and the third round at Roland-Garros.
The 21-year-old said he was happy to finish the season in the top 50 but now wants to go higher in 2023.
“It is a great achievement for me to end 2022 in the top 50. American tennis right now is being played at a super high level. You have a bunch of guys in the top 50 and the top 100 always having consistent results. So for me to be inside the top 5- is great, but I want to keep getting better,” Nakashima told Ubitennis in an interview. “My goals for next year are to break into the top 25 or 30 and go deep at all of the Grand Slams as well.”
“Even though I lost some tough matches to Zverev, Kyrgios and Sinner, I took a lot of positives from those” – Nakashima
Nakashima added that he also wants to improve his physical conditioning to help him during the Grand Slams. “I am still pretty young at 21 so I am building up my fitness and getting stronger and faster. One of the keys next year will be lasting longer in these best of five set matches. I felt that (Jannik) Sinner at the U.S. Open definitely lasted longer than me in those long rallies and the really physical games. So I am working hard to get fitter and fitter. I know what a difference that can make for me.”
Among his many highlights of the year, Nakashima recalled his second round win over 19th ranked Grigor Dimitrov at the US Open as one of his favourites.
“I had the opportunity to play against some of the top players and I played some of my best tennis against them. It gave me a lot of confidence,” the American added. “Playing in those big stadiums like the Centre Court at Wimbledon and Armstrong at the U.S. Open was a cool experience. Even though I lost some tough matches to Zverev, Kyrgios and Sinner, I took a lot of positives from those. Maybe my favorite moment was beating Dimitrov at the U.S. Open. He had beaten me in Rome. At the Open I had the crowd behind me. It was great to win that match there and it was one of the highlights of my year.”
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