AUSTRALIAN OPEN NO. 2 SEED RUUD SUFFERS SHOCK DEFEAT TO BRILLIANT BROOKSBY IN MAJOR UPSET

AUSTRALIAN OPEN NO. 2 SEED RUUD SUFFERS SHOCK DEFEAT TO BRILLIANT BROOKSBY IN MAJOR UPSET

Australian Open No. 2 seed Casper Ruud has been knocked out in the second round by Jenson Brooksby in four sets.

The unseeded American was able to dispatch the 2022 French Open and US Open finalist 6-3 7-5 6-7(4) 6-2 to reach the third round for the first time in his career after a match filled with epic rallies.

The 22-year-old will play fellow American Tommy Paul next after he beat world No. 32 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in five sets.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

RUUD TAKES THE THIRD 'DRAMA FILLED' SET ON A TIE-BREAK AGAINST BROOKSBY

AN HOUR AGO

"First and foremost Casper is a warrior," Brooksby said in his on-court interview after the match.

"I knew it would be a great battle out there. So I was confident with my level and I just had fun competing out there and seeing what could happen.

"I'm just really proud of my mental resolve after the third set battle didn't go my way [losing three match points] and just turned it around.

"I thought I was playing really strong and I wanted every game not to lose my focus out there.

"Last year I had Covid the day before I flew out here but hopefully this is the first of many good years here to come."

Brooksby had to save a break point to make the score 3-3 in the first set, but he converted one of two in the very next game.

Brooksby wore Ruud down in a mammoth rally and the Norwegian eventually sent a wild backhand out wide to hand the American the advantage.

On the Ruud serve, Brooksby sealed the opening set. He let out a roar after placing a forehand service return well out of Ruud's reach.

Both players were happy to engage in long rallies from the baseline. Ruud got his first break of the match in the third game of the second set due to an overcooked backhand from Brooksby. However, the American broke back to make it 2-2 with Ruud making the same error.

Ruud takes the third 'drama filled' set on a tie-break against Brooksby

Neither player could be separated in the 66-minute set until Brooksby got a slice of luck on set point on the Ruud serve, winning another epic rally when his backhand dribbled off the net cord.

Brooksby went a break up to make it 2-0 in the third set, but Ruud immediately responded by breaking back.

The Brooksby backhand had been a reliable weapon all afternoon and it helped him out greatly again to move into a 4-2 lead.

'Oh, yes!' - Ruud 'picks off' Brooksby with sensational passing shot

Brooksby remained mentally strong and broke the Ruud serve once again to get into a commanding 3-0 lead. Ruud got one break back in the fourth game, but Brooksby responded with his third break of the set.

Brooksby beat Stefanos Tsitsipas at Indian Wells last year, but he was able to add a second top-10 scalp to his record, and the greatest win of his career, on his fifth match point.

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