Newport 2024: Brandon Nakashima vs Alex Bolt preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Hall of Fame Open
Match Details
Fixture: (5) Brandon Nakashima vs (Q) Alex Bolt
Date: July 17, 2024
Tournament: Hall of Fame Open 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 16)
Venue: International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport, Rhode Island, US
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Grass
Prize Money: $661,585
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+
Brandon Nakashima vs Alex Bolt preview
Fifth seed Brandon Nakashima will face qualifier Alex Bolt in the second round of the Hall of Fame Open.
Nakashima was up against fellow American Emilio Nava in the first round here. The former landed the first blow in the opening set as he broke the latter's serve to go 2-1 up.
However, Nava managed to level the score to stay on his opponent's tail. Nakashima gained the upper hand once again towards the end as he went on a three-game run to claim the set. He didn't encounter any resistance in the second set and swept five straight games from 1-2 down to register a 7-5, 6-2 win.
Bolt secured wins over Hong Seong-chan and Mitchell Krueger to book his place in the Newport main draw. He took on Czech teen Jakub Mensik in the first round. The Australian captured the first set with ease, breaking his younger rival's serve twice to do so.
Mensik overcame a break deficit to get back on serve in the second set. He then served to stay in the match at 5-4, and even held a game point to even the score. However, Bolt put some pressure on the teenager and got to a match point. While he fumbled the first one, he didn't falter the second time and scored a 6-2, 6-4 win.
Brandon Nakashima vs Alex Bolt head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between them, so the head-to-head is deadlocked at 0-0 for now.
Brandon Nakashima vs Alex Bolt odds
(Odds are sourced from Draftsking Sportsbook)
Brandon Nakashima vs Alex Bolt prediction
After a tough first set, Nakashima ran away with the match to beat Nava. Bolt had an easy start but overcame a spirited challenge from Mensik to record his second win of the season, and his third career win on grass. Both victors lost their serve only once in the previous round.
Nakashima had fallen out of the top 100 of the rankings towards the end of last season but has now made his way back into the top 60. He has played quite well on grass in recent weeks, reaching the semifinals in Stuttgart and the third round of Wimbledon. He has a 6-3 record on the surface this season.
Bolt doesn't make too many appearances on the main tour, and has won only three matches at the ATP level since the start of 2022. Nakashima's recent results on grass make him the heavy favorite in this encounter, coupled with his opponent's poor record on the ATP Tour.
Pick: Brandon Nakashima to win in straight sets.