The 2025 tennis season is up and running and Tommy Paul is one of the stars to look out for. After struggling to make his way into the top 10 for years, his breakthrough moment came at the Australian Open. With now his title defense on the line at ATP Dallas, he will be looking to make the most of his time at home. However, his road to glory will not be easy at all. Standing his way in the round of 32 will be his compatriot Jenson Brooksby. With the stage set for an epic encounter, who among the two will come out on top?

Tommy Paul vs Jenson Brooksby: Preview

Currently ranked No. 9 in the world, Tommy Paul is set to begin his campaign in Dallas following his quarterfinal run at the Australian Open. He fell to Alexander Zverev in four sets. Despite the loss, Paul has had a solid start to 2025, compiling a 6-2 win-loss record. While he has yet to play on indoor hard courts this season, his overall record on the surface is strong, boasting 61 wins to 37 losses. His best result of the year so far was a semifinal appearance in Adelaide. Not only this, he is also the title defender here in Dallas.

Jenson Brooksby, ranked No. 466, is also beginning his Dallas campaign but comes into the tournament in stark contrast to Paul. His last match was at the Cleveland Challenger, where he suffered a first-round exit against J.J. Wolf. Brooksby has yet to secure a win in 2025, holding a 0-2 record, including a loss on indoor hard courts. However, his career stats on the surface remain respectable, with 26 wins and 13 losses, showcasing his potential to perform well under the right conditions.

This will be Paul’s first indoor hard-court match of the year, and given his higher ranking and strong recent form, he will enter the match as the favorite. Brooksby, on the other hand, will need to shake off his early struggles and find consistency if he hopes to challenge Paul in their opening-round clash.

Paul vs Brooksby: Head-to-head

When it comes to head-to-head stats, Tommy Paul has an edge over his opponent. In the two matches they have played, Paul has won both, maintaining a 100% win record.

Prediction: Tommy Paul to come out on top in an epic battle

Tommy Paul enters the 2025 season following a highly successful 2024. During this time, he captured three ATP titles. The American has established himself as a strong performer on hard courts, winning three titles from five finals. His most recent hard-court triumph came at the Stockholm Open, where he defeated Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets. With his consistency and confidence at an all-time high, Paul will look to maintain his momentum as he begins his campaign in Dallas. Adding to this, the American superstar has a strong attacking forehand, solid footwork, and speed at the net. These things have significantly helped him be successful on clay courts. 

On the other hand, his opponent, Jenson Brooksby, is a former top 35 player. However, he is still searching for his maiden ATP title. Despite his struggles, he has reached two hard-court finals in his career, the last of which was at the Dallas Open in 2022. In that final, he fell to Reilly Opelka in two closely contested tiebreak sets. Brooksby has had a difficult return to the Tour. He has struggled to find his rhythm and form in his early matches of the season. However, he has experience by his side and could still trouble his compatriot.

Prediction: Given Paul’s current Top-10 status and strong performances on hard courts, he will be the favorite heading into their matchup. Brooksby will need to rediscover his best level if he hopes to challenge the in-form Paul in their upcoming encounter.