Mackenzie McDonald beats defending champion Brooksby in Houston ATP Tour event
match report
McDonald beats defending champion Brooksby in Houston
Zhang wins Shelton duel, Vallejo, Bolt advance
March 31, 2026
ATP Tour
Mackenzie McDonald defeated Jenson Brooksby in Houston on Monday (file photo).
Written by ATP Staff
Mackenzie McDonald spoiled Jenson Brooksby’s title defense on Monday by defeating the 25-year-old 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship.
The American prevailed in one hour and 19 minutes for his first clay-court victory since defeating Daniel Elahi Garland in the first round in Houston last year.
“I’m proud of the start of this year’s clay court season,” McDonald said. “I’ve worked really hard the last two weeks, so I’m happy to see some of that reflected in the game.”
Brooksby won the 2025 title through qualifying and saved at least one match point in three of the seven matches he entered. But he couldn’t work the same magic this year as his opponents showed composure.
McDonald saved all four break points he faced and took advantage of Brooksby’s 30 unforced errors, according to Infosys ATP statistics. With the win, the 30-year-old earned his first top-50 win since defeating No. 42 Gael Monfils in the first round at Queen’s Club last June.
MacDonald’s next test at the ATP 250 clay court event in Houston will be a second-round match against compatriot Colton Smith or Thiago Agustin Tirant.
In another first-round match on Monday, wild card player Zhang Zhizhen defeated British qualifier Jack Pinnington Jones 6-1, 6-3 and will then face top seed Ben Shelton in the second round. With a 63-minute victory, Zhang Xiang won his first victory on clay since Hamburg advanced to the quarterfinals in 2024.
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo also advanced to the second round with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over American Zachary Svaida, becoming the first Paraguayan player to win multiple ATP Tour matches in a season since Ramon Delgado in 2006. The 21-year-old will next face fourth seed Tommy Paul.
Alex Bolt also won the first round, defeating Wu Yibing 7-6(6), 6-2. He will next face either fifth seed Tomas Martin Echeverri or Federico Agustin Gomez.
