Nick Kyrgios says there’s an American ATP star who is one of the ‘most underrated’ talents in tennis

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Nick Kyrgios appears to be keeping a watchful eye over the ongoing action at the Miami Open, despite no longer being in the tournament.

Kyrgios won his first ATP match in over two years at the Miami Open, coming from a set down to beat Mackenzie McDonald.

However, this return to winning ways was short lived, as Kyrgios was beaten by Karen Khachanov in his second round match in Miami.

While the Australian is no longer in the tournament, Kyrgios has picked out an American ATP player that he has been impressed by.

Nick Kyrgios says Brandon Nakashima is one of the most underrated ATP players

Brandon Nakashima defeated former top 10 player David Goffin, who had beaten Carlos Alcaraz, to reach the fourth round at the Miami Open for the first time in his career.

The 23-year-old American also reached the last-16 at Indian Wells, and it appears that Kyrgios has been impressed by Nakashima’s recent good form.

Kyrgios also commented on Emma Raducanu, who also won in Miami, and claimed that her critics appear to have quietened this week.

“Nakashima has to be one of the most underrated players in the game,” Kyrgios said on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Also people awfully quiet that Raducanu is winning now – where all the experts at now? lol coach’s overrated.”

Kyrgios knows what it’s like to play Nakashima, having beaten him in five sets on his run to the Wimbledon final in 2022.

What is Brandon Nakashima’s best ranking?

Nakashima is currently at his career-high ranking of world number 32, which puts him in a seeded position for these bigger tournaments, including Grand Slams.

Next up for the young American is last year’s Miami Open finalist Grigor Dimitrov, who Nakashima has actually beaten before.

They have played twice before, with Nakashima winning their most recent meeting that came on US Open hard courts.

However, that took place over two years ago and a lot has changed for both players since then.

If Nakashima is able to beat Dimitrov again he will move up to a live ranking of world number 29, which would be a new career-high for him.