Pro Circuit Round-up: Brooksby goes back-to-back

Eighteen-year-old Jenson Brooksby won his second USTA Pro Circuit and ITF World Tennis Tour M25 title in as many weeks, making the state of Illinois his personal playground. He backed up last week’s Champaign title with another triumph in Decatur on Sunday, this time winning all five of his matches in straight sets on the hard courts. It is his third career ITF singles title, with the first coming in Bakersfield, Calif., in March. 

The Sacramento native beat Axel Geller, the 2017 US Open boys’ singles finalist, 6-2, 6-3, in the quarterfinals and took out another Argentine, Santiago Fa Rodriguez Taverna, 6-1, 6-4, in the final. 

His recent results have vaulted him to a new ATP career high of No. 450. Brooksby, who will be hoping for a US Open qualifying wild card, competed in the 2018 main draw after he earned a wild card by winning the USTA Boys’ 18s National Championship in Kalamazoo, Mich. While he fell to John Millman, Roger Federer’s eventual conqueror, in Round 1, Brooksby reached the semifinals of the boys’ singles event to conclude his junior career.

Catherine Harrison, 25, won the W25 event in Fort Worth, Texas, topping compatriot Chanelle Van Nguyen, 6-4, 6-0, in the final. Harrison also sealed her final place with a bagel set, in a 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 victory over Alexa Glatch. The first set in that semifinal was the only set Harrison lost on the week.

Lorraine Guillermo was also a singles semifinalist in Texas, while Lauren Proctor and Sophie Whittle reached the last eight. Elysia Bolton and Jada Hart teamed up to reach the doubles final.

There were also a pair of Pro Circuit events in Lexington, Ky., yielding an American doubles titlist in both the men’s and women’s competitions.

Martin Redlicki took the doubles title at the ATP Challenger 80 event, teaming with Ecuadorian Diego Hidalgo. They beat American Jack Withrow (who partnered with Jack Sock at the 2019 Australian Open) and partner Roberto Maytin, 6-2, 6-2, in the final.

JC Aragone reached the singles semis in Kentucky, while Alex Ritschard reached the quarterfinals.

At the W60 event in Lexington, Ann Li was a singles and doubles finalist, teaming with Jamie Loeb (who reached the singles quarters) for her doubles run. Robin Anderson, a singles semifinalist, won the doubles title with Jessika Ponchet of France. The epic doubles final was decided by three tiebreaks, 7-6, 6-7, [10-7]. 

Other notable results for Americans on the ITF Circuit last week include:

Women:

• Elle Christensen was a singles quarterfinalst at the ITF WTTW15 event in Cancun, Mexico.

Men:

• Joshua Ortlip was the singles and doubles champion at the M15 event in Cancun. Mwendwa Mbithi reached the singles semis, while Gage Brymer and Tyler Mercier reached the last eight. Mercier was also a double finalist.
• Maksim Tikhomirov was a doubles champ at the M15 event in Telavi, Georgia.

Wheelchair:

• Bryan Barten was a men’s open singles quarterfinalist at the Belgian Open ITF 1 Series event in Brussels.