The Pick, presented by DraftKings Sportsbook: Jenson Brooksby vs. Nikoloz Basilashvili, Miami

World No. 39 Jenson Brooksby made headlines for the wrong reason on Thursday, as the American threw his racquet and it hit a ballperson in his opening-round match at the Miami Open. The 21-year-old received a point penalty for that mishap, but many felt he deserved to be disqualified from the tournament. And while it’s hard to disagree, the American closed out that contest, and now faces world No. 20 Nikoloz Basilashvili.

While the story of Brooksby’s last match was the racquet toss, it should be noted that he bounced back from a rough start to defeat Federico Coria, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. It was really a dominant performance from the youngster after a tough opening set, and it was impressive to see him beat a player like Coria in these conditions. While the Miami Open isn’t a clay-court event, the humidity and heavy winds definitely favor a grittier player. With that, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see some clay-court specialists, like Coria, playing a little better than expected in South Beach.

WATCH: Should Brooksby have been DQ'd?

Brooksby’s next challenge comes in the form of the uber-talented Basilashvili, but the Georgian has been absolutely miserable to start the 2022 season. Since the start of the year, Basilashvili is just 3-8, and all of those wins came in his runner-up showing at the hard-court event in Doha. It’s definitely a bit surprising for a player that has such a dangerous forehand, but when he’s not completely locked in, things can turn south quickly. And that’s part of the reason it’s hard to see him defeating Brooksby in Florida.

While Basilashvili is 2-0 against Brooksby, the American has taken his game to new heights in recent months. He put himself on the map when he took a set from Novak Djokovic at the 2021 US Open, and is on an impressive 18-6 stretch since that Arthur Ashe Stadium effort. Brooksby has also quickly gained a reputation as one of the toughest players to face on the ATP Tour, as he is an absolute workhorse and has a ton of energy. The 21-year-old is going to chase down everything, and his all-around game seemingly gets better every time he steps on the court.

This match-up has the potential to turn into a one-sided affair, which is why we’re on Brooksby to cover the game spread. The wind in Miami could really get to Basilashvili, and this can get out of hand the second he starts questioning himself. Brooksby is not going to let anything get to him, and he’s going to turn up the heat once he sees his opponent battling himself mentally on the other side of the net. It also helps that for all the power Basilashvili possesses with his forehand, that pop hasn’t quite made it over to his first serve. That should help Brooksby plenty of chances to break.

The Pick: Jenson Brooksby -3.5 Games (-135)