🎾 ATP Rome: Jordan Thompson vs Brandon Nakashima

🎾 ATP Rome: Jordan Thompson vs Brandon Nakashima – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

Brandon Nakashima

• Career-best season: Reached a new high at No. 29, with deep runs in Indian Wells, Miami, and Madrid (all R4).
• Clay breakthrough: Earned two Madrid wins and nearly upset Medvedev—his best-ever clay showing.
• Rome turnaround? Previously 0–3 in Rome, but now arrives confident and rested with a first-round bye.
• Momentum alert: Back-to-back clay wins for the first time in his career last week.

Jordan Thompson

• Injury struggles: 2025 has been marred by fitness issues and inconsistent form.
• Clay skepticism: 0–5 on clay in 2023, and hasn’t built consecutive wins on the surface since 2019.
• Mpetshi Perricard specialist? All three of his recent wins have come against the same opponent.
• Upset odds: Gritty game, but no real momentum or strong clay performance this season.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Nakashima enters with a composed, low-error baseline style that’s beginning to click on red clay. His serve has become a real weapon, helping him navigate tough sets and build scoreboard pressure.

Thompson will look to make things physical, but Nakashima's improved defense and clean execution on long rallies put him in control. Unless the American dips or gets passive, he should dictate from start to finish.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Nakashima in 2 sets. His upward trajectory on clay and clean form this spring should overpower Thompson’s inconsistent rhythm.