A look inside Jenson Brooksby’s comeback: from unranked and unable to hold a phone to glory | ATP tour | Tennis

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A look at Brooksby’s comeback: from unranked and unable to hold a phone to glory

American discusses the return journey from two wrist surgeries
December 22, 2025

Jenson Brooksby was unable to hold his phone for several months in 2023. His wrists were immobilized, each in plaster casts for eight weeks, the aftermath of two operations performed just two months apart.

It was only fitting that Brooksby poetically secured his first ATP Tour title in April, two years after surgery, after saving match points in three matches en route to the Houston trophy. Those hard-fought matches were a demonstration of his dedication during his comeback… and it was only one chapter.

After starting this season unranked, the 25-year-old rose to No. 51 in the PIF ATP Rankings, not far from his career-high No. 33, which he reached in 2022.

“I haven’t seen anyone who has needed surgery on both wrists and been able to do that, so I’m very proud of myself,” Brooksby told ATPTour.com in October. “I think it’s a testament to the work I’ve put in and the confidence I’ve had at the lowest times or at the highest times like now. I still think I can beat what I’ve done in the past.”

The physical challenges behind Brooksby’s two-year comeback were severe. His right wrist tendon was 70 to 80 percent dislocated, while his left wrist tendon was completely dislocated. Brooksby underwent left wrist surgery in March 2023 and right wrist surgery in May 2023. Brooksby, who competed with heavily taped wrists throughout the 2022 season, tried to avoid the second surgery through rest and rehabilitation, but the discomfort proved impossible to overcome.

Both surgeries were performed by California-based Dr. Steven Shin, who has operated on several sports icons.

^{Jenson Brooksby in May 2023. Credit: Jenson Brooksby}

Brooksby’s road back to full health was grueling and tested not only his body, but also his mental strength. It was not until twenty months after the operation that he was able to complete a practice match.

“I think the wrist just has to get used to the shock factor of tennis just from having k-wires [Kirschner wires] in my wrist, [the pain] was really high,” Brooksby said. “It took so many months. Sometimes it felt like it would never happen, but then you just stay patient with it, like you would with anything else, and eventually, like the rest of the body, it gets used to a certain tolerance or physicality.

“I was in different types of plaster on each wrist for eight weeks. During those eight weeks on each wrist, so sixteen weeks in total, I couldn’t do anything at all. Not even hold the phone or anything. I had to be mentally patient. You couldn’t even use yourself physically, let alone something simple. I went a bit crazy.”

The Sacramento native remains one of the toughest opponents on Tour, boasting consistency and razor-sharp court intelligence to outsmart any rival. His knowledge in all areas was on full display during his title run at the ATP 250 in Houston, where he started the week as a qualifying wildcard at No. 507 in the PIF ATP Rankings. He left with the champion’s trophy, becoming the third-lowest ranked titlist in ATP Tour history (since 1990).

Brooksby also enjoyed a run to the Eastbourne final and a semi-final in Tokyo, further illustrating that he is once again a serious contender. Well inside the Top 100 and close to a return to the Top 50, Brooksby found ways to sharpen his game in his absence.

“I think the biggest reason why I not only wanted to come back but believed I could get better is because I knew I still had a few weaker areas where I knew I could get better,” Brooksby said. “I think I was very good from the baseline, but I knew that if I could get my serve better than before, play more consistent attacking tennis and add more variety, I think I could reach the highest levels of tennis.

“I think the most important thing is that I’m looking for more efficient ways to get into the attacking areas of the field and finish points, rather than just sticking to the baseline.”

Reflecting on his journey, Brooksby is quick to credit the countless hours of hard work he put into his game and the continued support of his team. Even in the midst of adversity, he took away invaluable lessons.

“I think it just taught me a lot of patience in life,” said Brooksby, who died in December 2024 publicly revealed that he is on the autism spectrum. “To achieve your goals, you need extreme patience and consistency, and you have to accept that you are good in some areas and weaker in others, and you just have to work with what you have.”