Qualifier Brooksby stuns Tiafoe to win first ATP title

AFP | Houston

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Qualifier Jenson Brooksby, ranked 507th in the world, upset second-seed Francis Tiafoe 6-4, 6-2 to win the US Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston on Sunday.

Brooksby has pulled off upsets all week, saving match point in three matches after battling out of qualifying to beat top seed Tommy Paul in the semi-final.

But he was in control of the all-American final from the outset as he secured his first career ATP title in style.

The 24-year-old broke Tiafoe’s first two service games to race out to a 4-0 lead, hitting a series of spectacular winners and although he gave up that lead and was pegged back to 4-4, he broke again to secure the set, winning with a pickup volley as he fell to the floor.

It was Tiafoe’s third straight final at the event but the world number 17 was unable to claw his way back into the contest in the second set, a superb backhand passing shot from Brooksby allowing him to break for 4-2.