QUALIFYING WILDCARD CAPTURES FIRST ATP TITLE BY PRODUCING FREAK STATISTIC

Jenson Brooksby fronts the cameras in the Houston locker room. (Getty/Andrew Wevers)

Sidelined for 18 months due to suspension, Jenson Brooksby clinched his maiden ATP title after downing American compatriot Frances Tiafoe on the Houston clay.

The qualifier received a wildcard to enter the event and won the final 6-4 6-2 to extend his perfect head-to-head record over the world No.17 to 3-0.

"Thank you to my team. All the way from qualifying, match point down," Brooksby said before receiving the trophy. "That's pretty intense, so thanks for sticking with it, every match, every day here for me."

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Brooksby's crowning moment was made extra sweet given he had saved match points in three separate matches en route to the final, including three match points saved against Alejandro Tabilo in the round of 16.

Since match point records were kept in 2015, the 24-year-old has become the eighth player to win a title having saved match points in at least two matches.

Brooksby was banned from competing between mid July to January 2025 as a result of violating anti-doping rules by skipping three tests.

Ranked just outside the world's top-500 before the tournament commenced, Brooksby is the third-lowest ranked champion on the ATP Tour in 35 years.

The former world No.33 plays with an autism spectrum disorder, admitting to being nonverbal until four-years-old.

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