Jenson Brooksby opens up on improbable Houston title and more on 'Second Serve'

When Jenson Brooksby arrived on the scene, everyone was taken aback but what they saw. The athletic American with an unorthodox game found success early in his career as he frustrated opponent after opponent. Then the setbacks came, as injuries and a controversial anti-doping suspension threatened to chop down a promising career before it blossomed. Brooksby was at a crossroads, but he refused to give up on his dream.

Shortly before his comeback began, he revealed publicly that he is living with autism spectrum disorder, but he would not let that diminish his dreams of tennis success. And that first taste of success was realized in the most unlikely of places, as Brooksby won the 2025 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships last week in Houston.

Read more: Jenson Brooksby shares his story of living with autism

Fresh off his first ATP tour-level title, Brooksby joined Mark Knowles, Nick Monroe & Geoff Chizever on Tennis Channel 2’s 'Second Serve' to discuss his impressive title-run, and why he refuses to live in fear.

Brooksby’s return to tennis has been nothing short of spectacular, considering that he was inactive for two full years. He drew Taylor Fritz in his first match back at the Australian Open and competed valiantly against Tommy Paul in Dallas before he finally found his footing at Indian Wells. There, Brooksby raced to the third round in Tennis Paradise with a signature win over Felix Auger-Aliassime, proving to all that he still possessed his top game.

“I think my level’s even better than it’s been before as of late. I think I’ve added a little more variety and offense into my game, getting to the net, things I wasn’t as comfortable with before,” Brooksby said. “I’m very confident for the rest of the year right now.”

His most recent title run on the clay highlighted one of Brooksby’s greatest qualities, his resolve. The conditions were difficult, and changed from day-to-day in Houston. But Brooksby never wilted, even in the face of adversity. He saved match points in three separate rounds, and was faced with the age-old question, fight or flight. Brooksby chose to fight, and he won each time.

“I really do just stick with it and try to play my best tennis on important points or when I’m down and out. I think I’ve always kind of done that to a degree,” Brooksby revealed. “I accept that those negative thoughts may come to my mind first. But then I do a good job of pushing them out. In like the 25-second period (in between points), I push them out quickly, and then take it to the next point from there. It can lead to moments like that.”

As Brooksby continues his path in tennis and in life, he remains equal parts confident and mature on the journey. On 'Second Serve,' he discussed his willingness to embrace analytical data, while also relying on his own notes and instincts during matches with the game’s best. And regardless of what Brooksby’s fate is in the next tournament, he will handle the moment with courage. The decision to reveal with condition gave him the confidence to embrace life’s obstacles, while inspiring the many people around the world with similar sets of circumstances.

“It means the world to me to hopefully be able to inspire future generations, whether someone on the autism spectrum is playing tennis, or elsewhere in life,” Brooksby professed. “I even got multiple examples after the tournament, from ball kids or a tournament person about sharing a situation with that. So it’s very special for me.”