OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 12, 2026

Brandon Nakashima

Press Conference

B. NAKASHIMA/R. Jodar

7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the press conference of Brandon Nakashima. First of all, congrats a lot, Brandon, this is your first ATP Masters ATP 1000 singles final. Are you looking forward to tomorrow?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. I'm super happy right now. Everything that that I've got to get to this moment, all the hard work and everything, just so happy that it's all paying off, and yeah, so happy for tomorrow.

Q. Congrats on the win. How much did you believe of your chances to make the final at the start of the week?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: I mean, obviously wasn't thinking about making the final that much. Going into the tournament I knew I was playing at a really high level, so I knew that I could go on a deep run here.

Obviously wasn't thinking about final or anything, but yeah, it is what is, and I mean, so super happy with all of it.

Q. Not to be dramatic, but does this feel like the biggest win of your career so far or is still San Diego the top of your mind?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: It's hard's to say. I think, of course, winning my first ATP title is always going to be the number one for me in San Diego.

Obviously this is definitely top three moments in my career, for sure in my career, for sure. Wasn't obviously thinking about final or everything. But, yeah, it is what it is. And super with all of it.

Q. Not to be dramatic, but this does this feel like the biggest win of your career so far or still is San Diego top of mind?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: It's hard to say. I think, of course, winning my first ATP title is always going to be the number one for me in San Diego. Obviously this is definitely top three moment for me in my career, for sure.

I think my serve and forehand were definitely the keys for today. I knew that I had to hit my forehand with a lot of pace, try to get him on the run because if he was doing that me, I wouldn't be in a good position. I would be running far behind the baseline and it would be tough.

So I knew I had to be aggressive, try to come forward as much as possible and luckily I was able to hit my serves where I needed to.

Q. Congrats on the win. How did you manage your last play of the game? You saved four match points.

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: Yeah. I mean, going into the last game I knew it was going to be tricky. I knew I was going to be nervous a little bit serving out the match, but I just tried to tell myself what I've done to get to this point and I deserve to be in this position.

So just go for it, and even if he were to break me in that last game, I knew I was still in a good position, and yeah, super happy that I was able to close it out.

Q. I have two questions, the confidence with which you were playing the opportunity that is in front of you, how you view it in terms of your career path?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: Yeah, I mean, with every match in this tournament I think it's been a new opportunity for me, trying to take it one day at a time, trying to treat each match with the same attitude with any other match.

Obviously, tomorrow playing in the final, it's going to be a new experience for me in a Masters 1000, but just trying to take it all in and trying to take it like any other match.

Q. On Rafael, what makes him a formidable opponent and what could make him live up to the hype that's around him right now?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: Yeah, there's not much to say. I think everybody knows the talent that he has, the level that he and produce. At this year it's been a rise like we've never seen before.

Obviously it's great to see that. He's definitely a good friend on tour for me, both playing at the same university, but at different times, so we have that connection. But, yeah, it's awesome to see his progression, and it's definitely exciting for his future.

Q. First of all, congratulations. The crowd was clearly backing Jodar tonight. For you as an athlete, was that frustrating?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: I was kind of expecting it. Of course, he's the next up-and-coming player. So of course, there's a lot of excitement around him, and after I won the first and got a lead in the second set, I knew that they were going to try and back him even more, because for one, the crowd always wants the match to go longer, but also at the same time, he's an exciting player to watch.

So I just try to focus on myself, try not to let the crowd bother me too much, and obviously overall, the atmosphere was amazing.

Q. Congrats, Brandon. No matter who wins tonight, you're going to face a fellow American in the final. How special is it for you, and what do you expect from matchups that are quite different?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: Yeah, it's going to be an exciting final, for sure. I know both of them really well. I've played Ben a bunch of times. I have practiced with Learner so many times. So we all know each other really well. So there's no secrets there.

And for me playing my first Masters 1000s final, it's an exciting time for me, so just trying to focus on myself.