Mackenzie McDonald vs Brandon Nakashima Preview & Prediction | 2025 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships | Round of 16

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Fourth seed Brandon Nakashima faces Mackenzie McDonald in an all-American tussle for a quarter-final berth

Ranking points: ATP 250

Start date/time: Thursday 3rd April, 2025: UK – not before TBC / US ET – not before TBC / US PT – not before TBC

Venue: River Oaks Country Club, Houston, USA 

Surface: Outdoor clay

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports Tennis / US – Tennis Channel

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Tennis Channel

Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Mackenzie McDonald vs Brandon Nakashima ticket information

Mackenzie McDonald vs Brandon Nakashima prediction

Brandon Nakashima will have his sights set on back-to-back Houston quarter-finals when he tackles Mackenzie McDonald in the second round.

The fourth seed reached the last eight at the tournament 12 months ago and arrives on the back of some fine form on hardcourt so far this year. The 23-year-old reached the quarter-finals at Delray Beach and the last four in Acapulco before second-round exits at Indian Wells and Miami respectively.

However, he faces a bit of nemesis in McDonald who owns the head-to-head 4-0 and has won three of those encounters in straight sets with only a five-set epic at the 2023 Australian Open offering some jeopardy.

McDonald produced one of his best displays of the year in defeating clay-specialist Daniel Elahi Galan in the first round, breaking serve three times and remaining unbreeched on his own throughout an impressive 6-2 6-7 6-4 win. 

The world number 100 will take confidence from the fact Nakashima has never beaten him at ATP Tour level and while this first match-up on clay could provide a change to the head-to-head narrative, this is evidently a clash of styles that doesn’t particularly suit Nakashima. 

Mackenzie McDonald vs Brandon Nakashima tip: Mackenzie McDonald to win