CINCINNATI : Brandon Nakashima saved three match points before completing a stunning 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-1 victory over fourth seed Daniil Medvedev in the Cincinnati Open third round on Tuesday.
The American extended his breakthrough summer with a first win in four meetings against Medvedev, who had beaten him in the Brisbane final earlier this year and entered the contest with a 6-1 advantage in sets.
Nakashima made the stronger start, breaking for a 4-2 lead and moving within a game of taking the opening set. Medvedev fought back, however, saving four set points before breaking as Nakashima served for the set.
The Russian then took control of the tiebreak with a backhand passing shot down the line to claim the opener.
Nakashima refused to let the setback derail him, holding serve throughout the second set and saving three match points before edging another tiebreak to force a decider.
Medvedev then lost his rhythm as Nakashima raced through the final set, breaking twice to complete the upset.
The world number 22 has now won 10 of his last 12 matches on the summer hard-court swing after reaching the semi-finals in Washington and his first Masters 1000 final in Montreal.
Nakashima will face Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the fourth round after Borges upset 13th seed Andrey Rublev 6-3 6-4.
