American Jenson Brooksby has knocked second seed Casper Ruud out of the Australian Open with a 6-3 7-5 6-7(4) 6-2 victory, extinguishing the Norwegian's hopes of winning a first Grand Slam title and topping the world rankings.
Two breaks of serve in the opening set of the second-round match handed Brooksby the early lead and he dictated terms in the second to raise the prospect of another big upset by a Californian, after Mackenzie McDonald beat defending champion Rafa Nadal.
Twice a Grand Slam runner-up last year, Ruud saved three matchpoints, before winning the third set in a tiebreak, as Brooksby began to feel the pressure, but the American regained his composure in the fourth to complete the win.
"Casper's a warrior, I knew it'd be a great battle out there," said Brooksby, 22. "I was pretty confident with my level, and just wanted to have fun out there and see what could happen.
"I was really proud of my mental resolve out there, after the third-set battle didn't go my way, to turn it around.
"Last year, I had COVID the day before I was due to fly out [to Australia] and that sucked, but hopefully, this is the first of many years to come."
Both players contested this month's ASB Classic at Auckland, where top seed Ruud was dispatched in the second round and Brooksby fell to Kiwi-Brit Cam Norrie in the semis.
Up next for Brooksby is compatriot Tommy Paul, who beat Spain's 30th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in five sets.
Reuters
