We’re taking a close look at a deep cut at the All England Club on Tuesday, when world No. 160 Mikhail Kukushkin and world No. 34 Jenson Brooksby collide. Brooksby has been a hot name on tour since last year’s US Open, when he put up a fight against Novak Djokovic. The American has, however, been in a bad way since the start of April. That leaves Kukushkin, a former world No. 39, with a fighting chance to emerge with a win.
While Brooksby is one of the better young players in the game, he is just 3-7 since the start of April. That record includes a 1-3 mark in four grass-court matches, so he hasn’t been able to get going on this surface. It’s not that surprising when you consider the fact that grass-court play often has quick points, with players swinging a bit bigger to put them away early. That hurts a player like Brooksby, who likes to use his wheels to extend points and eventually hit unlikely winners on the move. The American also lacks the strength to really hit through most players at this level, a limitation that stands out more on grass.
