Brandon Nakashima’s $368,800 jackpot: UTS Rio champion earns more than triple Tsitsipas and Rublev collected for ATP titles

Sunday, 19 July 2026 at 22:30

Nakashima raises his racket to greet the crowd

Brandon Nakashima’s Ultimate Tennis Showdown Rio triumph came with a financial reward that surpassed by a significant margin what this week’s ATP champions earned on the traditional tour.

The American secured $368,800 after winning the UTS Rio in Brazil, a figure more than three times higher than the approximately $106,000 received by Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev for their ATP 250 victories in Swiss Open Gstaad and Bastad.

The difference was one of the biggest talking points of the tennis weekend, with players competing across different formats but sharing the same calendar week. While Tsitsipas celebrated his return to the winner’s circle after 16 months and Rublev claimed another ATP title on clay, Nakashima’s success in the UTS format delivered a considerably larger payday.

The 24-year-old American defeated Brazilian teenager Guto Miguel 3-0 in the final (15-14, 17-14, 15-13) to become one of the rare players to win a UTS event on debut. His victory capped a strong turnaround after losing to Miguel earlier in the competition, with Nakashima responding by defeating Nick Kyrgios in the semifinals before dominating the home favourite in the championship match.

Nakashima and Kyrgios among the biggest earners of the week

Nakashima’s prize money was not the only notable figure from UTS Rio. Kyrgios, one of the biggest names in the field, earned $123,000 despite falling in the semifinals, a reward that was still higher than the money collected by the finalists from both ATP 250 tournaments this week.

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The Australian defeated João Fonseca in the quarterfinals before losing to Nakashima in the final four, but his presence helped highlight the financial appeal of the alternative format. Francisco Cerúndolo, who also reached the semifinals, received the same $123,000 prize.

Meanwhile, players who did not reach the final stages still earned significant amounts. Fonseca, who exited before the semifinals, collected $119,600, the same amount as Cameron Norrie. Tallon Griekspoor earned $100,400, while Corentin Moutet received $69,200.

The complete UTS Rio prize distribution was:

Player	Result	Prize money
Brandon Nakashima	Champion	$368,800
Guto Miguel	Runner-up	$214,200
Francisco Cerúndolo	Semifinalist	$123,000
Nick Kyrgios	Semifinalist	$123,000
Cameron Norrie	Classification stage	$119,600
João Fonseca	Classification stage	$119,600
Tallon Griekspoor	Classification stage	$100,400
Corentin Moutet	Classification stage	$69,200

ATP 250 champions earn far less despite title success

On the ATP Tour, Tsitsipas and Rublev enjoyed important victories but with much smaller financial rewards. The Greek captured his 13th career title at the Swiss Open Gstaad after defeating Raphael Collignon 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3, earning approximately €93,175 ($106,000).

For Tsitsipas, the title represented an important milestone after a difficult period, as he returned to the winners’ circle for the first time since Dubai 2025. The former world No. 3 survived four consecutive three-set matches during the week, including the final against first-time ATP finalist Collignon.

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Rublev also collected around €93,175 ($106,000) after winning the Bastad Open, defeating Luciano Darderi in the final. The Russian secured his first title of the season, while Darderi earned approximately €54,360 ($62,000) as runner-up.

That means Nakashima earned more than triple what Tsitsipas and Rublev collected for lifting ATP trophies, while even Kyrgios’ semifinal run produced a bigger reward than the finalists of the traditional ATP events.

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The numbers highlight one of the biggest differences between traditional ATP tournaments and newer tennis formats such as UTS. ATP 250 titles continue to carry significantly more ranking importance and historical value, but alternative competitions have increasingly attempted to attract players by offering competitive prize money and a different entertainment model.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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