🎾 ATP Houston: Christopher Eubanks vs Brandon Nakashima – Quarterfinal

🎾 ATP Houston: Christopher Eubanks vs Brandon Nakashima – Quarterfinal Preview

🧠 Form & Context

Christopher Eubanks 🇺🇸
📈 Finding rhythm again: Bounced back from a slow start to 2025 (10–11) with back-to-back wins over Hijikata and Nishikori.
🧱 Clay adjustment: Now 2–0 on clay this year — his first clay QF since 2022.
💣 Quick-strike tennis: Relies on a huge serve and early baseline strikes, even on slower surfaces.
⚠️ Houston breakthrough: Had never made it past R1 here until this week — newfound confidence is showing.

Brandon Nakashima 🇺🇸
🔥 Form on the rise: 11–8 in 2025 with big recent wins over Dimitrov, Goffin, and McDonald.
🎯 Clean on clay: 1–0 this season but 38–24 lifetime on the surface — he’s more comfortable than many realize.
🧠 Tactically sharp: Known for precision and patience — a reliable formula on clay.
📍 Back in the Houston QFs: Reached this stage last year, and he looks even more composed this time around.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This match offers a classic contrast in styles. Eubanks will try to shorten points with big serves and flat forehands, while Nakashima will seek to extend rallies, absorb pace, and win through superior shot tolerance.

Eubanks has looked sharper than expected on clay this week, using more variety in his serve and adapting well to the conditions. Still, the longer the rallies go, the more the odds tilt against him.

Nakashima brings more experience on clay, a steadier baseline game, and a consistent return that could put pressure on Eubanks’ second serve. With a 4–2 head-to-head edge (all on hard courts), he enters with a psychological edge too.

🔮 Prediction

Pick: Brandon Nakashima in 2 sets

Eubanks is dangerous when serving well, but Nakashima’s clay poise and relentless baseline discipline should carry him through.