Firenze Open 2022: Jenson Brooksby vs. Mackenzie McDonald Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2022 Firenze Open as Jenson Brooksby takes on Mackenzie McDonald in the first round on Tuesday, October 11th, 2022.

This should be an intriguing all-American clash in the first-round of the Firenze Open. But will Jenson Brooksby extend his impressive indoor hard-court record in 2022? Or will Mackenzie McDonald turn the tables in this rivalry?

Jenson Brooksby has been in great form in the second half of the season and comes to the Firenze Open on the back of a semifinal finish in Seoul. Brooksby produced a great summer on the American hard courts, such as reaching his second ATP final of the season in Atlanta and making the US Open third round where he fell to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz. The wait for a first ATP title is still playing on his mind, particularly in a year where his peers (like Fritz and Tiafoe) have been surging up the rankings. So could he collect his maiden title in Florence?

Mackenzie McDonald will have plenty to say about that at the Firenze Open. McDonald is seeking to avenge his two defeats against Brooksby, the latest of which came at the San Diego Open. McDonald owns four wins against Top 50 opponents in 2022, although none of those have come against players who have really taken many by storm this year. The list of wins includes, Basilashvili twice, Karatsev and Grigor Dimitrov.

Jenson Brooksby leads Mackenzie McDonald 2-0 in their head-to-head. Both matches were contested on the American hard courts a couple of months ago. But it hasn’t been a good omen for Brooksby beating McDonald. He would go on to lose the title match in Atlanta, and was bundled out by O’Connell in the quarterfinals of San Diego. Nonetheless I expect him to have too much nous and firepower to overcome McDonald again at the Firenze Open. He has also been the more productive indoors, winning six matches from eight in 2022.