Brandon Nakashima saved five set points in the second set to beat Matteo Arnaldi 2-4 4-3 (9-7) 4-3 (7-4) 3-4 (4-7) 4-2 in Green Group at the INTESA San Paolo Next Gen ATP Finals.
Nakashima saved thre break points in the first game. Arnaldi earned the break in the third game of the opening set on the second deciding point to take a 2-1 lead. The Italian player held on his serve to clinch the first set 4-2.
Arnaldi rallied from 0-30 down to hold serve for 2-2 before earning the break to take a 3-2 lead. Nakashima broke straight back on the deciding point after a double fault fron Arnaldi.
Nakashima went up a mini-break twice. Musetti broke straight back to draw level to 4-4. Arnaldi earned five set points at 7-6, but he made two double faults. Nakashima hit an inside-in forehand to close out the tie-break 9-7.
The third set went on serve en route to the tie-break. Nakashima went up a break to take a 3-1 lead. Arnaldi broke back to draw level to 4-4. Nakashima earned a second mini-break to win the tie-break 7-4.
Nakashima broke serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Arnaldi converted his second break-back in the next game to draw level to 3-3. Arnaldi got the only mini-break with a service winner to win the tie-break 7-4. Nakashima earned the break in the third game to win the fifth set 4-2.
“It took me a little while to get used to the new format, the new conditions out here. Right from the beginning it was a lot of a critical points. The sets were going by fast, so I tried to adapt as quick as possible. In the tie-break I was lucky to squeeze them out and I think it was just about finding a way out here ”, said Nakashima.
Stricker beats Draper in three tie-breaks
World number 111 Dominic Stricker upset Jack Draper 4-3 (7-5) 4-3 (7-5) 4-3 (7-5) in a tight match, where all three sets went to the tie-break.
Stricker converted his third break point in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead, but Draper broke straight back. Draper went up a mini-break twice in the tie-break, but Stricker pulled back on serve both times. Stricker won the final three points from 4-5 to clinch the tie-break 7-5.
The second set went on serve en route to the tie-break. Stricker earned three set points at 6-3 in the tie-break- Draper saved the first two set points, but Stricker converted his third opportunity to win the second tie-break 7-5. Stricker wasted four match points at 2-3 on Draper’s serve in the third set before winning the third tie-break 7-5 with his only mini-break. Stricker, who won the French Open boys’ title in 2020.
Draper reached his first Masters 1000 quarter final in Montreal and beat Felix Auger Aliassime en route to the third round at the US Opem. The British player lost to Carlos Alcaraz in three sets in Basel. He recently overtook Andy Murray to become the British Number 3 player.
