Tsitsipas claims first Winston-Salem win over Brooksby
Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Jenson Brooksby 2-0 to advance to the round of 16 at the Winston-Salem tournament.
Stefanos Tsitsipas secured his first career victory at the Winston-Salem tournament, defeating Jenson Brooksby in straight sets (6-4, 7-6). The Greek athlete, currently ranked No. 53 in the world, managed to overcome a challenging start to progress to the round of 16.
Recovery in the opening set
The match did not begin ideally for Tsitsipas, who suffered an early break and trailed 4-2. However, he regained his composure and intensified his play, winning five consecutive games. This surge allowed him to reclaim the break and secure the first set 6-4, shifting the momentum in his favor.
Pressure points and tie-break drama
The second set was a tightly contested affair. Tsitsipas demonstrated resilience by saving five break points during the seventh game and another in the ninth. While he had three match points at 5-4, Brooksby (No. 73) held firm to force a tie-break. In the decider, Tsitsipas trailed 0-3 and later faced a set point at 5-6. He successfully defended the set point on a second serve and won three straight points to wrap up the match in 1 hour and 54 minutes.
Round of 16 outlook
This result marks Tsitsipas' first win in Winston-Salem following a premature exit in the previous season. He now awaits the winner of the match between Luca Van Assche (No. 40) and Aleksandar Kovacevic (No. 89). Van Assche enters the frame in strong form, having recently secured his fourth Challenger title of the season.