Frances Tiafoe and Jenson Brooksby will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they clash in the final of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship on Sunday. Brooksby has won both of their previous encounters, prevailing 7-6(4), 7-5 at the 2021 Washington, D.C. tournament and 6-1, 6-4 one summer later in Atlanta.
The main reason why they haven’t faced each other since then is that Brooksby was absent for two years because of wrist surgery and a doping suspension. He returned in January and immediately played well, pushing Tommy Paul in a tight three-setter at the ATP 500 in Dallas before upsetting Felix Auger-Aliassime en route to the Indian Wells third round. The 24-year-old American is now through to his fourth ATP final following victories over Taro Daniel, Alejandro Tabilo, Aleksandar Kovacevic, and Paul. Brooksby came back from triple-match point down against Tabilo and from match point down against Paul.
For each man it has been a relatively surprising run in Houston–Brooksby because of his recent disappearance from the tour and Tiafoe because of his 2025 form. The 17th-ranked American had been just 6-6 for the year prior to this week, but he has turned things around by beating Adam Walton, Alex Michelsen, and Brandon Nakashima.
Although Tiafoe is the more experienced player with multiple ATP titles under his belt, he is just 3-6 lifetime in finals and for the most part has not played well this season. Moreover, Brooksby is 2-0 in the head-to-head series and it just feels like it’s his week. Even prior to his miracle run in the main draw, the world No. 507 was down 6-3, 5-3 in the first round of qualifying and faced a match point.
An upset is well within reach for Brooksby to cap off the dream week in style.
Pick: Brooksby in 3
WWW?
Hoping for Frances, can’t bet against the resurgent Brooksby
Id put money on Big Foe pulling out of MC or losing early.
yup
Big Foe in 3
ouch!
Brooksby will find European clay tougher.
I like his game though, interesting to see him on grass.