Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals participant Brandon Nakashima kept his pristine record intact on Friday by defeating British player Jack Draper 4-3(6), 1-4, 4-2, 4-3(5) to advance to the Milan final.
The American finished the round-robin stage with a perfect 3-0 record and put on another brutal display at the Allianz Cloud to win his 34th tour-level match of the year. In a hard-hitting match that thrilled the crowded audience, the fourth seed shot his impermeable backhand with furious power while opening his shoulders to accept significant cuts on his forehand.
After one hour and 38 minutes, the 21-year-old advanced after launching 29 winners on the boisterous court and recovering from a 2-5 deficit in the fourth-set tie-break. Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic defeated Dominic Stricker 4-1, 4-3(4), 2-4, 4-1 to go to the championship match.
Nakashima, who lost last year in the semi-final round, is making his second appearance in Milan. The World No. 49 won the Green Group earlier this week by defeating Matteo Arnaldi, Lehecka, and Francesco Passaro.