In early 2021 you could have been excused for knowing little about then-world No.315 Jenson Brooksby.
But a succession of deep tournament runs and signature wins, plus a unique playing style, have thrust the young American into the tennis spotlight.
With his upset of world No.5 Stefanos Tsitsipas at Indian Wells, he is projected to crack the top 40.
X-factor
Everything about the way Brooksby plays, from his serve – with its abbreviated motion and unusually low ball toss – to his shot selection and execution, is unorthodox.
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have compared his style to the similarly funky Florian Mayer, while Jessica Pegula declared him the ATP version of women’s star Sofia Kenin.
Sorry let me clarify. The two handed slice and drop shot and overall game is veryyyy similar. Everything else I have no idea ? https://t.co/ao2MnKpejD
— Jessie Pegula (@JLPegula) September 1, 2021
The fact so many pros have felt compelled to analyse his style shows how eye-catching it is.
It did not seem to impress Tsitsipas, who focused on “the amount of net cords (Brooksby) hit” in analysing the Indian Wells result and described Brooksby as neither very explosive nor the most athletic player. “There's nothing that he has that kills,” Tsitsipas concluded.
Yet frustrating and unwinding a player is indeed a Brooksby skill, via enviable consistency, relentless counterpunching and gritty competitiveness, plus an ability to conjure unusual, unexpected shots.
“I think my super power would be exploiting weaknesses in other people,” he revealed after beating Tsitsipas.
On court
This approach is clearly working, given the 21-year-old has won nine of 12 matches in 2022 and is targeting a first Masters quarterfinal at Indian Wells after reaching the ATP Dallas final in February.
He began building momentum in 2019, winning three ITF Futures titles, going 30-11 and ending the season at No.266 after starting it unranked. He also beat former top-five star Tomas Berdych in the first round of that year’s US Open after coming through qualifying.
He then did not compete for almost 14 months as a toe injury wiped his entire 2020 season, but thankfully, his momentum did not stall.
In fact, a breakout 2021 season saw him become one of the sport’s most promising rising stars.
Brooksby’s biggest wins (so far)
| Opponent | Ranking | Score | Year | Event | Round |
| S. Tsitsipas | #5 | 1-6 6-3 6-2 | 2022 | Indian Wells | 3R |
| F. Auger-Aliassime | #15 | 6-3 6-4 | 2021 | Washington DC | 3R |
| R. Opelka | #25 | 6-4 6-4 | 2021 | Antwerp | 1R |
| A. Karatsev | #25 | 6-2 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-3 | 2021 | US Open | 3R |
| K. Khachanov | #26 | 6-0 6-3 | 2022 | Indian Wells | 2R |
After earning three Challenger titles in four finals from February to April, Brooksby targeted the ATP tour, and kept winning.
He reached the Newport final and Washington DC semifinals, then the last 16 at the US Open – as a 20-year-old wildcard, he was the youngest American man to reach that stage at Flushing Meadows in almost 20 years – where he pushed top-ranked Djokovic to four sets.
Another ATP semifinal followed in Antwerp in October and he finished the year with a brilliant 49-12 win-loss record, voted by his peers as the ATP Newcomer of the Year.
Notable stat
Brooksby’s jaw-dropping rankings rise has seen him improve 272 places in the 13 months since February 2021.
Off court
His father Glen is an enthusiastic racing fan who named Brooksby after F1 driver Jenson Button.
Both Glen and mother Tania also dabbled in tennis, receiving lessons from Joseph Gilbert who later began coaching Brooksby at age seven – and who continues to coach him to this day.
Brooksby also has interests away from tennis, playing the piano – practising on a grand piano at the family home – and enjoying nature along rivers outside his hometown of Sacramento, California.
He said…
“Just having the variety of shots, being able to place it well in different spots, is a strength of mine. I've trained like that ever since I was young.”
“I like pressure. That’s what I live to play for, honestly. I love going out there and everything is up to me. There’s no excuses out there, it’s all you. And I just love that responsibility.”
He told the ATP Tour: “I love competing more than anything and the rush of being able to play each match.”
Experts are saying...
“Brooksby is one of the players that the locker room talks about quite often lately because of his talent… I think he’s an intelligent player. He uses the court very well.”
– Novak Djokovic
Jenson Brooksby is the sort of player I love to watch…lots of variety..high tennis IQ….great in defence..?
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) August 6, 2021
His slice and backhand volley are almost identical to Florián Mayer.#tennis @atptour
“He is such a fighter, and for so long we were saying, ‘Oh, maybe the Americans aren’t tough enough or maybe they’re not grinding enough,’ and he’s the opposite. He’ll stay out there and do whatever it takes to win.”
– Lindsay Davenport
“He clearly thrives on competition. A lot about him gives me the impression that he’s a heck of a student. If your heart is in it at all times, and your head is in it at all times, success isn’t that hard to come by.”
– Todd Martin