HOUSTON (AP) — Qualifier Jenson Brooksby earned his first ATP Tour title Sunday by beating Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-2 in the final of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship.
Brooksby, a 24-year-old from California, saved five match points during the tournament, including one in his semifinal victory over top-seeded Tommy Paul. Brooksby eliminated the three highest-seeded men in the field, including No. 2 Tiafoe and No. 3 Alejandro Tabilo.
Ranked outside the top 500 entering the event in Houston, Brooksby is expected to climb inside the top 175 in Monday’s ATP rankings. He is the first American man to win an ATP singles trophy this season and the first qualifier to win this tournament since Fernando Gonzalez of Chile in 2000.
