Following his loss in the US Open final last year, Jannik Sinner recognized the need to become less predictable in his game, especially against top competitor Carlos Alcaraz. He emphasized that improving his net play would be beneficial across all matchups.
During his third-round match against Jenson Brooksby, it appeared for a time that Sinner had strayed from this advice. In the opening set, he rarely approached the net, opting instead to rely on his powerful groundstrokes from the baseline. However, in the second set, he made a significant adjustment, winning all 11 points he contested at the net and even successfully executing four serve-and-volley plays.
With a commanding two-set lead, the world No. 1 felt secure enough to revert to his baseline strategy in the third set, ultimately securing a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory after two hours and 13 minutes of play. This win marked his fifth consecutive appearance in the last 16 at Wimbledon, solidifying his status as a favorite, especially with Alcaraz absent due to injury. Next, he will face Shintaro Mochizuki, the former junior champion who managed to defeat Rafael Jódar.
“Very happy about the win,” Sinner expressed. “Trying to improve every day. Small step forward today [but] trying to get better. If I want to go far in this tournament, couple of things I need to handle better, but all in all, very happy. He’s a very tough opponent.”
The only hiccup in Sinner’s performance came when he was broken while serving for the match at 5-3 in the third set, which may have recalled memories of his earlier collapse at a similar point in his second-round match at Roland Garros last month. Nevertheless, he regrouped in the next game, playfully cupping his hand to his ear after creating a third match point—an unusually expressive move for him—before closing out the match when Brooksby hit a forehand long.
When asked about his celebratory gesture, Sinner chuckled, stating, “Very unusual, but I needed that today. I was a break up, trying to serve out, couldn’t, then had a couple of match points, couldn’t use them and I tried to rush to the finish line. It helped me today. Thanks for pushing me. I’ll try to be the best I can in a couple of days’ time and see how it goes.”
Brooksby, a promising junior who won the US Nationals title at just 17, reached the third round for the second time, four years after his initial appearance, coinciding with his career-high ranking of 33. He faced an 18-month ban in late 2023 for missing three anti-doping tests in a single year, a sanction that was later reduced to 13 months on appeal. Since returning at the beginning of 2025, he has climbed back into the world’s top 100, currently sitting at 81.
Diagnosed with autism as a child, Brooksby only publicly disclosed this last year. He has since shared how he learned to navigate and even thrive in crowded, noisy environments. Known for his unorthodox playing style, particularly his two-handed slice backhand, he captivated the audience with impressive shots against Sinner, showcasing rapid returns, powerful forehands, and finesse. Grass courts seem to suit his style well.
Brooksby lamented missed break opportunities at the start of a tightly contested second set, which allowed Sinner to seize momentum by breaking to love for a 4-3 lead and then extending his advantage. Although Brooksby broke Sinner at the start of the third set, Sinner quickly leveled the match and, despite a late stumble, emerged as a confident victor.
In another match, Jan-Lennard Struff from Germany advanced to the last 16 for the first time, defeating former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev with a score of 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 7-5.
