And 1, and 2...

And yep, 3–0 Brooksby already, and not a single set won by Tiafoe!

The scores are sometimes lopsided, so it’s necessary to analyze what’s going on here, especially in Houston. There have been two notable matches and the last one in Houston in 2025, where Brooksby won the final. I don’t really remember the conditions, but it was on fast clay, which isn’t the best spot for him. However, Brooksby is still leading 3-0 and he’s the underdog here, while Tiafoe isn’t in his best period either. He’s had a few recent wins in Acapulco, where he won four matches and reached the final. However, he could’ve lost to Kovacevic and Nakashima, and although he gave everything in the final against Cobolli, he lost in straight sets. I’m on the fence about the American’s true level. Also, the match against Brooksby, who looked interesting against Popyrin, was good. Brooksby took advantage of a weaker Popyrin, although there was some tension for Brooksby towards the end of the match. When you play Tiafoe at Indian Wells, that pressure can resurface despite a recent win. I still see a favorable match-up for Brooksby and I don’t understand why he’s the underdog. I think the odds, if they’re not flipped, should at least be much closer.