HOUSTON—Last year’s winner of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship, Jenson Brooksby, saved five match points before lifting the trophy.
So when the defending champ saved his third match point Monday night, in his first-round match with Mackenzie McDonald—on a net cord, no less—you could be forgiven for thinking ahead. Did Brooksby have his fellow American right where he wanted him?
“I’ve practiced with him a lot—he’s the king of coming back from match points,” said McDonald. “He definitely has that reputation.”
And McDonald, leading 6-4, 5-2, definitely wanted to close things out, before reputation became reality.
