Medvedev defeats Nakashima to win Brisbane trophy ahead of Australian Open

Former satellite No 1 overcomes Brandon Nakashima successful consecutive sets to involvement his assertion arsenic an Australian Open contender.

Three-time Australian Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev warmed up for an battle connected this year’s opening Grand Slam successful cleanable manner by winning the Brisbane International last connected Sunday.

The Russian satellite fig 13 was excessively beardown for American Brandon Nakashima and ran retired a 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) victor successful 96 minutes connected Pat Rafter Arena for his 22nd ATP Tour title.

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Medevdev broke a shell-shocked Nakashima doubly successful the archetypal acceptable and looked connected people for a speedy victory.

Nakashima rallied successful the 2nd to unit a tiebreak but the towering Russian raced to a 5-0 pb successful the breaker and the lucifer was arsenic bully arsenic over.

“I started beauteous beardown but past Brandon recovered his mode back, saved immoderate lucifer points past astir got it to a 3rd set,” Medvedev said.

The Australian Open begins successful Melbourne adjacent Sunday, January 18.

“It’s been a large commencement to the year,” said Medvedev, who made the last successful Brisbane successful 2019.

“I said past that I would effort and travel backmost and triumph it. I came backmost 7 oregon 8 years aboriginal and I’m blessed to clasp the trophy.”

Medvedev was runner-up astatine the Australian Open successful 2021, 2022 and 2024 [Dan Peled/Reuters]