Nakashima eliminates Goffin 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 to reach Miami Open 4th round

David Goffin reached a career-high rank of #7 in 2017. After the 2022 season, he had fallen out of the top 100 following two serious ankle injuries (2017 & 2021).

Over the course of the last two seasons, he has reascended the rankings and is on the verge of reentering the top fifty. With six career titles, the thirty-four-year-old from Belgium is currently ranked #55.

In the second round of the Miami Open, he conquered and stunned world #3 and four-time grand slam champion, Carlos Alcaraz in three explosive sets and leads the head-to-head 2-1.

Brandon Nakashima from the United States has achieved a career-high rank of #32 and is seeded thirty-one. After a first-round bye, the twenty-three-year-old dispatched tour veteran Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3 in the third.

The California native with one career title, led Goffin 2-0 in the head-to-head, victorious last month in straights on an outdoor hardcourt in Acapulco. Goffin won the toss and chose to receive.    

Source: Getty

Nakashima hit an ace out wide and held at love while Goffin faced a triple break point and dumped serve. The American struck an ace up the tee and consolidated the break at love.

The former world #7 struck two aces and though he faced two deuce points, got on the board with a winning inside-in forehand. Not to be outdone, Nakashima hit two additional aces and held for 4-1 with a spectacular crosscourt forehand.

Goffin opened the sixth with a confident overhead and held at love for 2-4 while Nakashima made 3/5 first serves and held to 15 for 5-2.

Goffin serving to stay in the set and with new balls, gifted his first double fault and despite trailing 0-30 and facing deuce, held for 3-5 with two fantastic forehands inside-in. Nakashima struck two consecutive winners including his fifth ace and after thirty-four minutes, secured the set at love.

Goffin served first in the second and though he hit his second ace, dropped serve following two consecutive forehand winners from Nakashima. The American held easily to 15 to consolidate the break while the Belgian donated his second double fault yet held to 30 for 1-2.

Nakashima hit three remarkable winners including two consecutive aces for 3-1 while Goffin held at love with a sweet backhand drop volley. Nakashima made 3/5 first serves including an ace up the tee and held to 15 for 4-2 while Goffin gifted three unforced errors and faced two deuce points before holding with two aces.

The American serving with new balls donated his first double fault and though he hit his ninth ace, dumped serve when Goffin ripped the forehand return down the line. The Belgian struggled as he faced three deuce and two break points but held with an ace to consolidate the break and assume the lead.

Nakashima was serving to stay in the set, opened with an overhead smash and with a blistering backhand down the line, and held at love to level at five. With the resolve of a tour veteran and superior footwork of an elite athlete, Goffin struck two consecutive forehand volley winners to lead 6-5.

Nakashima serving to stay in the set and force the breaker, opened with two consecutive winning forehands and with a third down the line, held to 15 to level at six. Goffin led 4-2 when they changed ends and while Nakashima leveled at five with an extraordinary backhand down-the-line pass that clipped the tape, Goffin sealed the tiebreak with a winning return and mishit pass from his opponent.

The American served first in the decider and dumped serve following a double fault and two consecutive winners from Goffin. The Belgian opened with a huge serve up the tee but gave back the break following five unforced errors including two consecutive double faults.

It appeared as if Nakashima would quickly consolidate the break having reached 40-0 but struggled off the forehand and faced four deuce and two break points before holding for 2-1. Goffin serving with new balls missed 3/5 first serves but held easily to 15 to level.

The American continued to misfire off the ground but with his twelfth ace and a winning inside-out forehand, held to 30 for 3-2. Goffin opened the sixth with an ace up the tee but with his fifth double fault, faced double break point and dropped serve.

Nakashima hit three winners including his thirteenth ace and held at love for 5-2 while Goffin serving to stay in the match, hit another winning overhead and held at love for 3-5.

Nakashima opened the ninth with two consecutive groundstroke winners and secured the match with a serve and winning forehand volley. After 2 ¼ hours, Goffin came undone by a slew of unforced errors while Nakashima progressed to the 4th round for the first time.

It was a poised and measured performance from the Californian. He won 84% of first and 48% of second serve points and won 23% of first and 59% of second serve return points.

He saved 2/4 break points while converting 4/10. He struck 13 aces, 2 double faults, 35 winners, and 29 unforced errors. Capable of seamlessly transitioning from defense to offense with exceptional ball striking and balance, Nakashima was equally effective at net winning 12/15.

Next up for the American, former world #3 and 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion, Grigor Dimitrov. The thirty-three-year-old Bulgarian who is seeded 14th, dispatched the 22nd seed Karen Khachanov in three tight sets.  

They split their previous two meetings with the American taking the most recent and lone hardcourt match in straights at the 2022 US Open. With a coveted spot in the final eight on the line, this promises to be a highly competitive match with lots of variety. While Nakashima is playing on home turf, Dimitrov will have ample crowd support at Hardrock Stadium.