Rematch

Since their match in Dubai on February 24, both men have had exactly the same fate at IW: a first round gotten through logically with a better match-up, then they get absolutely smashed. What the heck?!

I have to admit these two players are very hard to figure out at the start of this season. Zizou is getting results way below his level, except at the United Cup. Worse, he’s even taken two beatdowns: one against Lehecka, the other against Paul (his last match). It really looks like an injury to me, and it’s probably affecting his motivation. By the way, he’s just withdrawn from Phoenix because of a left hip injury...

On Brooksby’s side, no injuries (not that I know of, at least), his level has been there in his recent matches, except against Tiafoe at IW, where he was just physically wrecked. As soon as it’s like that, of course, his whole game suffers. He should have fully recovered since then, but sometimes his fatigue is a bit chronic. In any case, his profile is still more reassuring than Zizou’s. If Brooks is in form, you really don’t want to face him while you’re injured... Even less so on American soil.

That’s exactly what happened in their recent meeting, by the way. Zizou had that bad-day look on his face. There without really being there, just hoping it would somehow work out.

So what do we do with all that?