Brooskby and his constant struggle against adversity

Andrés Tomás Rico | 7 Apr 2025 | 10.21

Brooskby and his constant struggle against adversity. Photo: Getty Images

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There is no rival or obstacle that Jenson Brooksby cannot stop. The 24-year-old has faced a life of difficulties since being diagnosed with autism at the age of four, and during his professional tennis career, he broke both wrists and was suspended for doping, leaving him out of the courts for two years. But even so, the American did not give up and now smiles with the ATP 250 Houston title in his hands after a week full of challenges.

Brooksby landed in Houston three months after his return to the courts, and as expected, the results had not been entirely positive. Only three victories since the beginning of the year, two of them in Indian Wells, with a low ranking (507th) far from the 32nd position he achieved in June 2022.

His incredible week in Houston was close to ending on the first day.

This situation led him to need an invitation to play the qualifying rounds of the Texas tournament, where he was on the brink of bidding farewell prematurely in his first match. His opponent, the Argentine Federico Agustín Gómez, had a match point to eliminate him, but the American resisted and turned the match around (3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4). He then had no trouble against Patrick Maloney (6-4, 6-2) and entered the main draw.

After that scare in the qualifying rounds, Brooksby raised his level in the first round and defeated Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-4. But the real test came in his next match against the third seed, Alejandro Tabilo. This match could perfectly summarize Brooksby's tennis and life as he kept hope alive and fought until the end defending three match points to eliminate one of the top favorites by 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(8).

After this heroic resistance, he had to roll up his sleeves again to come back against Aleksandar Kovacevic (2-6, 6-3, 6-4) and thus reach the semifinals in Houston. Another player would have been satisfied, especially when facing the top seed, Tommy Paul. But simply, Brooksby does not understand the meaning of 'giving up,' especially not when he has endured two wrist fractures, a shoulder injury, and a doping suspension in just two years.

Against Tommy Paul, he again faced the abyss when dealing with another match point against him, the fifth in a week. And once more, he held onto the court to neutralize the attempt and win the match 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(8).

Only one more step was needed to secure his first ATP title after two years of pure nightmare. However, in the final, unlike the rest of the tournament, it was the moment with the least suffering, surprising the champion of the last two editions, Frances Tiafoe, with a 6-4, 6-2. He threw the racket to the ground and put his hands to his head in disbelief at the feat he had accomplished after being behind and almost out throughout the competition. "Thanks to my team for the whole journey, from qualifying to match points against me. It's been very intense, so thank you for enduring, every match, every day here for me," said the Delaware native during the trophy presentation.

What Brooksby achieved in Houston was an exercise in faith, overcoming challenges, and courage, just like when he spent 40 hours a week with neuropediatricians as a child after being diagnosed with non-verbal autism (he did not speak until the age of 4). He confirmed this in an interview with AP in December: "It's something I no longer want to keep to myself. It is clear that it is a very personal issue, something that, for a long time, I did not feel comfortable enough to share in conversations with people I cared about. But I always thought about it... and over time, I wanted to talk about it."

Now that his biggest secret is out, the American steps onto the court with nothing to lose and the need to reclaim what he lost in these two years. So far, he has risen 335 spots, from 507 to 172. The journey ahead is still long, but there is no doubt that Brooksby will fight until the last ball of every match. He has proven it in Houston and intends to continue doing so wherever he goes.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Brooskby y su constante lucha ante la adversidad