Jenson Brooksby, the 24-year-old American, looks to pull off an upset this afternoon against world No. 12 Karen Khachanov in the Cincinnati Open Round of 32.
For Brooksby, this season has been a redemption tour. Once ranked as high as No. 33 before serving a two-year suspension for missed drug tests, the currently world No. 101 has endured a rough return — suffering first-round exits in his first three tournaments back.
Momentum began to shift at Indian Wells, where he reached the third round before falling in a tight match to Jack Draper. The breakthrough came in April when he won his first ATP title on clay in Houston, defeating Frances Tiafoe in the final after beating Tommy Paul in the semis. He added another strong result on grass in Eastbourne, finishing runner-up to Taylor Fritz.
After early exits in Washington and Toronto to start the North American hard-court swing, Brooksby has fought his way to the third round here and will be eager to keep his run alive.
Khachanov arrives in Cincinnati coming off a draining tournament in Toronto, where he reached the final before falling to Ben Shelton in three sets. Along the way, he defeated Casper Ruud, Alex Michelsen, and Alexander Zverev, showcasing his heavy serve and clean ball-striking.
If Khachanov has enough left in the tank, he has the weapons to sink Brooksby. But he’ll need to navigate the American’s unorthodox counter-punching style and knack for breaking opponents’ rhythm — qualities that make Brooksby a dangerous opponent on hard courts.
For Brooksby, the challenge is just as steep: Khachanov’s booming serve and ability to dictate from the baseline make him a tough matchup for anyone.
Brooksby–Khachanov Head-to-Head
Brooksby leads their head-to-head 1-0, winning their only meeting — at Indian Wells in 2022 in straight sets.
Prediction
Khachanov in 3 sets. While Brooksby’s disruptive game and rising confidence create intrigue, Khachanov’s experience, power, and recent hard-court form, headlined by a semifinal run in Toronto, give him the edge.
How to Watch Jenson Brooksby vs. Karen Khachanov
The Jenson Brooksby-Karen Khachanov match is now expected to start at around 4:35 PM Eastern on Grandstand Court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, after Paolini-Krueger.
The match may air live on the Tennis Channel or its streaming-only T2 Channel, which is available on Amazon Prime Video here.
The Tennis Channel has a live stream simulcast of its TV coverage here, along with a dedicated feed for the Brooksby-Khachanov match here.
A standalone Tennis Channel streaming subscription is available for $9.99/month or $109.99/year.
Brooksby vs. Khachanov
Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Expected Start Time: 4:35 PM Eastern (after Paolini-Krueger)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio
Court: Grandstand Court
TV: Tennis Channel
Streaming: Tennis Channel app and website
Globely News covers the game changers transforming the worlds of business, sports, politics, and technology. From AI and electric vehicles to the rise of China and the NFL's next stars, we've got you covered.