Get ready, tennis fans, because Daniil Medvedev is on fire! He's stormed his way into the Brisbane International final, proving once again why he's a force to be reckoned with. This marks Medvedev's 41st tour-level final – a truly impressive feat!
On Saturday, Medvedev battled it out in a semi-final clash against American Alex Michelsen, securing a victory with a score of 6-4, 6-2. While the match wasn't without its challenges – Medvedev racked up 27 unforced errors – he demonstrated his resilience by saving every single break point he faced in the second set. This win also allows him to break his tie with Alexander Zverev for the second most finals among active players. He is now only behind Novak Djokovic, who has an astounding 144 finals under his belt.
Medvedev himself admitted the match wasn't a walk in the park, stating, "It was not easy at all. The score doesn't completely reflect the match." He went on to say, "But I'm happy that in the most important moments, I managed to be better than Alex. That's what you have to do to win the match."
His strong performance at the end of the 2025 season, including consecutive semi-final appearances and a title win, has set the stage for a promising start to 2026.
Now, for the final showdown! Medvedev will face off against another American, Brandon Nakashima, carrying a 2-0 head-to-head advantage.
Nakashima earned his spot in the final by defeating his good friend Aleksandar Kovacevic with a score of 7-6(4), 6-4. This marks Nakashima's fourth ATP Tour final and his first since winning his maiden title in San Diego back in 2022. He's been on a roll, not dropping a single set throughout the Brisbane tournament.
Nakashima shared his thoughts on playing against his friend, saying, "Aleks and I are actually really good friends, we practised a lot the past month, so it’s great to see him playing well at these tournaments. For me, I’m really happy with the level I played today and I’m excited to keep playing here in Brisbane.”
But here's where it gets interesting... Medvedev's dominance is undeniable, but can Nakashima pull off an upset? What strategies will he employ to counter Medvedev's powerful game? What do you think about Medvedev's performance? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
