Australian Open: Jenson Brooksby stuns Casper Ruud

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The 22-year-old Jenson Brooksby took down the 2nd seed Casper Ruud 6-3, 7-5, 6-7, 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena. The young American is in the third round during his Australian Open debut, playing at a high level and winning two matches at the previous three Majors.

Ruud has not played well at the start of the new season, and he did not like his chances in Melbourne after failing to generate any spin with the Dunlop balls. The Norwegian struggled to impose his stroke or cause damage with his forehand, giving his everything in the third set but hitting the exit door.

Thus, there are no top-3 players in the Australian Open third round for the first time since 2002, with Carlos Alcaraz missing the event and Rafael Nadal losing a day earlier. Brooksby played better behind the second serve and took 22 points more than Ruud.

The American seized nine out of 13 break points and lost serve only four times to control the pace.

Jenson Brooksby defeated Casper Ruud in four sets.

Jenson destroyed Casper in the most advanced rallies, taking 55 out of 80 and building the victory in that segment against one of the finest baseliners out there.

Brooksby saved a break point at 2-3 in the opener with a service winner and claimed an extended rally in the next one to grab a break and forge the advantage. The American found the rhythm and produced another break of serve in game nine to wrap up the opener with a forehand down the line winner.

The first three games of the second set saw plenty of deuces, and Ruud broke in the third game to move in front. Brooksby leveled the score at 2-2 and came from 40-0 down in the next one to remain on the positive side. Both players served well in the next games, and Casper had to produce another fine hold at 5-6 to introduce a tie break.

Instead, Jenson broke him with a lucky net cord winner that secured a set for him and sent him closer to the finish line after an hour and 48 minutes. They traded breaks early in the third set, and the American grabbed another to forge a 4-2 advantage and smell the victory.

Brooksby fended off a break point in game seven and held for 5-2, leaving Ruud to serve to stay in the match. Casper produced a fine hold and fended off three match points on the return in game nine to stay alive. The Norwegian broke back and claimed the tie break 7-4 for a massive escape and a boost.

However, it was not to be for him. Jenson broke Casper three times in a row for a 4-1 advantage and fired a service winner in game eight to emerge at the top after three hours and 54 minutes.