Brandon Nakashima knocked out Alex de Minaur in straight sets at the Washington tournament, winning 7-6, 6-4. The American's first serve was the difference: he won 82% of points behind it and fired 10 aces, while de Minaur could only convert one of his four break chances.
The opening set was a rollercoaster, with Nakashima breaking in game one, de Minaur hitting back immediately and again for a 3-2 lead, before Nakashima levelled at 4-4 and took the set in a tiebreak. In the second, de Minaur saved two of three break points he faced, but Nakashima's pressure finally told at 4-5 in game nine, breaking to close out the match.
The standout number was Nakashima's serving: 10 aces and an 82% first-serve points won rate. Even though de Minaur won more return points overall (30 to 23), he could not solve Nakashima's delivery in the big moments.