US Open quarter-finalist Botic van de Zandschulp has been playing the best tennis of his career in recent months, but he was unable to solve the Jenson Brooksby puzzle on Wednesday in Antwerp.
Brooksby played vexing tennis to cruise past the Dutchman 6-2, 6-0 and move into the quarter-finals of the European Open. The #NextGenATP American will next play third seed Cristian Garin or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
“It’s never as easy as the score looks sometimes, but I thought I started out [well], I just felt strong today,” Brooksby said in his on-court interview. “I just didn’t let up my focus at all and I think that showed.”
The qualifier, who has not been extended past 6-4 in a set in his four qualifying and main draw matches at the ATP 250, methodically dissected van de Zandschulp’s game. He broke his opponent’s serve five times and saved the only break point he faced to advance after 63 minutes.
“I’m just trying to take it one day at a time,” Brooksby said. “[I want to] enjoy the last few tournaments the rest of the season and then just have a fun offseason getting ready for a big next year, hopefully.”
Brooksby made few mistakes in the match, and even when van de Zandschulp hit impressive shots that would have ended the point against many players, the American found a way to redirect the ball into an uncomfortable position.
The #NextGenATP star is fifth in the ATP Race To Milan, making him next in line to qualify for the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals.