Rising Tennis Star Jenson Brooksby Is Blazing Trails On And Off The Court

Almost every photograph of American tennis star Jenson Brooksby captures it. There’s a consistent intensity in his face and ambition in every swing. It almost makes the 21-year-old right-handed California native look like the second coming of John McEnroe—albeit a perhaps more polite version of the 1970s great.

Currently ranked no. 43 in the world, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour member has had an impressive string of performances in 2022, culminating with his entry into the finals of the Atlanta Open at the end of July.

So far Brooksby—who just turned pro in 2021—has not claimed his first ATP title. But his unique playing style and unorthodox mechanics suggest that Brooksby has a long and fruitful career ahead of him. So, it’s not surprising that both fans of pro tennis and sponsors are watching.

Just this summer it was announced that Brooksby was being tapped for his style by Christopher Cloos. The Danish eyewear maker known for both prescription eyewear and sunglasses as well as its sustainability pledges has brought on other pro athletes such as Tom Brady, and Brooksby says that he aims to represent the eyewear brand well.

“I was so excited when Christopher Cloos launched the new Cloos x Brooksby eyewear collection for me in June,” Brooksby said, in our interview last week. “It’s such a cool thing to be a part of—to have sunglasses with your name on them, that was a big dream of mine!”

Brooksby said that his line is made from 100% eco-friendly and biodegradable materials, with designs in plain black and other colors as well as a “leopard color” that pushes the edges.

Another Christopher Cloos specialty is blue light glasses, also sometimes referred to as “computer glasses,” which it makes in both men’s and women’s styles. The brand says their blue light lines “block harmful blue light from natural and artificial sources, such as your phone, laptop, tablet, and the sun” while also helping avid tech users reduce digital eye strain and headaches.

“It is really convenient,” Brooksby added, “to be able to have blue light glasses in bed when I am reading, or on my phone. So, the fact that my Cloos x Brooksby collection comes in sunglasses and blue light glasses was perfect.”

With the upcoming U.S. Open, which begins August 29, on the horizon, I was able to get ahold of Brooksby to ask him about his career on the rise and this year’s Grand Slam events.

Andy Frye: What was playing in this year’s Wimbledon and French Open like for you? Do you have a preference so far?

Jenson Brooksby: It was a very cool experience to get to play Wimbledon and the French Open for the first time. Those are tournaments I’d watch every year as a kid so it was a dream come true for me. I was also able to learn a lot on how to not only improve on grass and red clay, but also being gone on the road for so long and how to manage those things better as I progress in my career. If I had to choose, I would say that I prefer Wimbledon over the French Open.

AF: Each Grand Slam is a different animal. How you are gearing up for the U.S. Open ? How is it different from other majors?

Brooksby: The U.S. swing is always special for me because any time you get to play in front of the great home fans we have in the U.S. is special, and it also gives my family and friends a chance to attend a few of the tournaments as well. It’s more convenient playing in the States, of course, being an American, but it would just mean even more to be able to win a grand slam in my home country. I am looking to improve my on-court hours and mental focus as I gear up for the U.S. Open.

AF: Each tennis player has their strengths. What are a few we’ll see more of from you going forward?

Brooksby: I think the biggest strength you will see from me going forward will be my consistent mental focus on the court, or in other words improving my consistency week in and week out with my results as I am learning how to manage things better on tour.

VIDEO: Is Jenson Brooksby the “next big thing” in pro tennis?

AF: What players or people have influenced you most in your career and journey?

Brooksby: In terms of looking up to players, the big three—Djokovic, Nadal and Federer—were always players I looked up to as a kid. In regards to the biggest influences in my life, my coach Joseph Gilbert has had the biggest influence on my career, and my parents Glen and Tania have had the biggest influence on my personal life.

AF: On a more easygoing note, what music do you listen to to get pumped? Any songs or artists that you are currently liking or that are your go-to’s?

Brooksby: On the morning of match days, the music I normally listen to is either rap or EDM. That music gets me more excited for sure and gives that extra energy you are always looking for. In regards to artists I like, I really like classic Eminem for rap, and for EDM I like Gryffin or Kygo.

Read Frye’s interviews with Tom Brady and Venus Williams.

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