The Barcelona Open is here to continue the action on clay as fans feel the Monte-Carlo blues. Daniel Evans is set to kick off his stint in the tournament against Brandon Nakashima. Both players have not had a good year so far, which they look to turn around in the City of Counts. The clash will be between two players who are desperate for a win, which can be a spectacle for viewers.

The Barcelona Open is a place where Spaniards can witness great tennis action as it is an ATP 500 tournament. But will they find the entertainment they want from Nakashima and Evans?  

Daniel Evans vs Brandon Nakashima: Preview

Evans has had an abysmal time in 2024. Out of the 10 matches he has played, he has only managed to win two. He was eliminated in his opening-round clashes in the Grand Prix Hassan II and the Monte-Carlo Masters. He played Sebastian Ofner in his last clash, where he lost 1-6, 4-6. The state of his performance at the moment does not evoke much confidence. 

Nakashima is on similar tracks as Evans. While his performance in Challenger tournaments has been great, he has not been able to go beyond round 2 in significant tournaments. However, he showed better performances in the ATP Houston, where he managed two wins before being eliminated by Ben Shelton, showing some hold on clay.  

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Evans vs Nakashima: Head-to-Head

Nakashima and Evans will play each other for the third time in Barcelona. They played each other first time in the 2021 Citi Open, where Nakashima won 7-6, 6-0. Then, again they faced each other in the 2022 Paris Masters, where Evans took revenge for his loss, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Their first match was on outdoor hard, and their next match took place on indoor hard.

While Nakashima was the victor on the slightly slower surface, their prior matches do not set them apart for their upcoming clash on clay. 

Prediction: Nakashima to cause an upset in Barcelona

While Evans has shown slightly better performances on clay than Nakashima in his career, his current form will not take him to victory. Winning only two matches this season, regardless of the surface, shows that the Briton is not up to the challenge of the ATP Tour, at least at the moment. The American player showed some promise in the ATP Houston, where he hit 19 aces in three matches. 

He also managed at least 74% win on first serve throughout all matches, as opposed to Evans’ 64% in Monte Carlo. While Nakashima lost to Shelton in the quarterfinal, it was a close match that ended 5-7, 6-7 for Shelton. Currently, Nakashima has performed better, especially on clay, which makes him the winner.

Evans might be able to capture victory if he can manage to gain the advantage from the start, but it will require him to become a different player than he has been in the last few months.