The ATP player ranked 507th in the world has just reached a final on clay and made tennis history by doing so

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The ATP Tour has switched from hard courts to clay, with events in Houston, Bucharest and Marrekech currently in place.

Several top ATP players are in action, with the tournaments leading up to the Monte Carlo Masters and ultimately the French Open.

This year represents the first clay season since 2002 without Rafael Nadal, who was the undisputed King of Clay.

Casper Ruud can shine on clay in 2025, with the Norwegian having just won the Ultimate Tennis Showdown on the surface in Nimes.

But ATP number two Alexander Zverev thinks he can win the French Open, having lost the Australian Open final at the start of the season.

Jenson Brooksby makes tennis history after reaching Houston final

For the time being, however, there are plenty of clay court champions to crown, which includes a home winner in Houston.

Second seed Frances Tiafoe is into the final for the third successive year, where he will take on fellow American Jenson Brooksby.

READ MORE: Nick Kyrgios reacts after Jenson Brooksby suffers heavy defeat to Taylor Fritz in Australian Open first round

And the latter has already made history before the match, with Brooksby the lowest-ranked player to reach an ATP final on clay.

As per OptaAce, that is since the inaugural season of the ATP Tour in 1990, with Brooksby currently ranked 507th in the world.

Frances Tiafoe vs Jenson Brooksby head-to-head record ahead of Houston final

Brooksby is continuing his return from a lengthy doping ban in Houston, where he is enjoying a stunning run.

The American is competing at the ATP 250 event as a qualifier, with a final spot clinched thanks to a superb semi-final win over Tommy Paul.

READ MORE: Leading ATP and WTA players call for major change across all four Grand Slams with letter sent

In another battle between two compatriots, it was the 24-year-old who beat the top seed 7-6(7-5), 3-6, 7-6(7-8).

He is only the second qualifier to reach the final of the competition since it moved to Houston in 2001, when Mariano Zabaleta lost his 2007 final with Ivo Karlovic.

Tiafoe meanwhile, ranked 17th in the world, lost last year’s final to Ben Shelton, having beaten Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the 2023 final.

But Tiafoe has a worrying head-to-head record against Brooksby ahead of their final, with the latter having won both of their previous meetings.