On Thursday, March 6, Jenson Brooksby will look to win his first tour-level match since January of 2023. The American, who was suspended 18 months for missing multiple drug tests, will take on Benjamin Bonzi in the opening round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
While it might seem a little nuts to back a player that hasn’t won a big match in ages, it’s hard not to like the 24-year-old to find a way here.
Brooksby turned in an ugly performance at the Australian Open, losing 6-2, 6-0, 6-3 against Taylor Fritz in the first round. However, about a month later, he looked a lot better in a 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-4 loss to Tommy Paul in Dallas. Brooksby also played rather well in last week’s ATP Challenger-level event in San Diego, beating Coleman Wong 6-2, 6-4 and then putting up an admirable fight in a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5) loss to Ethan Quinn in the Round of 16.
Slowly but surely, Brooksby is starting to look like the high-level counter puncher he was when he became the world No. 33.
