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Match Details
Fixture: (32) Brandon Nakashima vs (WC) Yosuke Watanuki
Date: October 5, 2024
Tournament: Shanghai Masters 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 64)
Venue: Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, Shanghai, China
Category: ATP Masters 1000
Surface: Hardcourt (Outdoor)
Prize Money: $8,995,555
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN | India - Sony
Brandon Nakashima vs Yosuke Watanuki preview
Thirty-second seed Brandon Nakashima will face Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki in the second round of the 2024 Shanghai Open on Saturday, October 5.
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Nakashima is enjoying a breakthrough season on the ATP tour, reflected in his solid 26-16 match record. While he hasn’t reached a final yet, his consistency has led to deep runs in tournaments, with a semifinal appearance in Stuttgart and Chengdu being his best result so far.
He had a strong North American hardcourt swing, reaching the fourth round of the US Open and third rounds in Montreal and Cincinnati. He took part in the Japan Open last, upsetting compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the first roundvbefore losing to eventual finalist Ugo Humbert.
Watanuki, in contrast, has played just two ATP main draw matches before Shanghai, losing both. He kicked off his Shanghai campaign in the qualifiers. He beat 11th seed Otto Virtanen in the first round, coming back from a set down to seal an emphatic 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-0 victory. He then brushed aside 19th seed Hong Seong-chan 6-2, 7-5 to book his berth in the main draw.
Watanuki survived another three-set thriller in his opening round against Pavel Kotov, coming back once again after losing the first-set tiebreak to secure a hard-fought 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-5 victory.
Brandon Nakashima vs Yosuke Watanuki head-to-head
Brandon Nakashima and Yosuke Watanuki have not yet faced each other in professional competition, so their head-to-head record stands at 0-0.
Brandon Nakashima vs Yosuke Watanuki odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Brandon Nakashima vs Yosuke Watanuki prediction
Brandon Nakashima's stellar form in the latter half of the season has earned him a seeding for the first time at a Masters 1000 event. He’s won 11 of his last 18 hardcourt matches since Wimbledon, steadily improving and establishing himself as a serious contender on tour.
Yosuke Watanuki, on the other hand, has had limited exposure to professional competition this year, having played just two main draw matches heading into Shanghai. He successfully navigated through the qualifiers for the first time and also notched his first main draw win this week. He was solid on serve, getting broken only once. His resilience and recovery from a tight first-set loss to win the next two in tough conditions must also be commended.
Nakashima's current form and superior hardcourt skills give him a significant edge. He could seal a straightforward win if Watanuki doesn’t disrupt his rhythm early on with aggressive returns and net play.
Pick: Nakashima in straight sets.
