Red-Hot Jenson Brooksby Achieves Top 100 Breakthrough | ATP tour

Less than four months ago, Jenson Brooksby was among the top 200 of FedEx’s ATP rankings. But after a red hot stretch, including the Newport final and the Washington semi-finals, #NextGenATP American on Monday crushed the Top 100 for the first time in world No. 97.

“I’m excited. It looks like a cliché answer, but I know I have a game to do it, and I’m glad I’ve done it in a short amount of time,” Brooksby told ATPTour.com. “Let’s see how high I can push it.”

Brooksby has garnered high marks from the biggest minds in the sport. Former world number one Andy Murray tweeted on Friday thanking the 20-year-old.

“Jenson Brooksby is the kind of player I love to watch… a lot of variety .. high tennis odds…. great in defense, ”Murray wrote. “His slices and backhand volley are almost identical to Florian Mayer’s.”

Jenson Brooksby is the kind of player I love to watch… a lot of variety… high tennis IQ… .great defense.
His slices and backhand volley are almost identical to Florián Mayer.#tennis @atptour

– Andy Murray (@andy_murray) August 6, 2021

Brooksby was excited to hear about Murray’s tweet. “I think it’s very accurate. Of course it’s great to hear from Andy,” he said at a press conference in Washington. “He’s been one of the best in the sport and a great guy that’s good to watch. That means a lot.

The Californian is an unusual troublemaker on the ground. The American rarely misses and finds ways to place the ball in uncomfortable places with his opponent, just like Murray and Daniil Medvedev. He also has a two-handed post-slice and he’s not afraid to get involved in drops or cyber attacks when needed.

Frances Tiafoe described his compatriot’s style of play as having lost well to Brooksby in Washington.

“[He] is very unusual. Apparently everything he does is pretty weird, ”Tiafoe said. “[He] puts you in an awkward situation, makes you play an extra ball, waits hard for the ball. [He] is really solid, makes you play a lot. “

Brooksby, who is a strong competitor, enjoys placing his opponents in these difficult situations and frustration.

“I really do. I’m sure a lot of people think about it, ‘Oh, someone had a bad day or something,’ Brooksby said.” But I think it’s the result of my game doing the right things and revealing their weaknesses.

Brooksby, who won a wild card for his first ATP Masters 1000 at this week’s National Bank Open as presented by Rogers, has turned his unique game and competitive spirit into a victory in 2021. In addition to the recent success of the ATP Tour, the American has won his first three ATP Challenger Tour tournaments This season.

“I really believe this is my level, and it’s not surprising to me,” Brooksby said. “I’m happy, of course, that I’ve been able to do it consistently for most weeks, and it’s [moreso] that my mental endurance has improved more than anything else. “

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^{Photo credit: Andrew Eichenholz / ATP Tour}
While Brooksby is happy to be in the Top 100, he has no intention of stopping here. The #NextGenATP star wants to move on.

“I hope I have a lot more for the first time. I think I will, ”Brooksby said. “I’m just excited to be able to keep playing and keep learning.”