USC DUO BRADLEY FRYE AND BRANDON HOLT CAPTURE TITLE
AT 131st ANNUAL PACIFIC COAST MEN’S DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP
Final Match Played Before Capacity Crowd at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club
LA JOLLA, Calif. – (March 8, 2020) – One thing was certain as the second-oldest tennis tournament in the United States reached its conclusion: the winning tandem would have a University of Southern California connection.
Bradley Frye and Brandon Holt defeated Tanner Smith and Colter Smith, 6-4, 6-3, to win the 131st Annual Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Championship at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club on Sunday.
It was a decidedly USC affair as all but one of the final four players are on the Trojans squad which is ranked No. 1 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. And the fourth player, Tanner Smith, graduated from USC last year.
The winning pair and co-No. 1 seeds joined a long list of Trojans who have hoisted the trophy at this seaside slice of tennis paradise.
“It is only my second year at USC, but I heard how prestigious this tournament is,” Frye said.
Frye, a sophomore, teamed with Holt, a senior and the Trojans’ top player, when Riley Smith, a brother to Tanner and Colter Smith, had to miss the event.
“Not too bad of a partner,” Frye said with a sly smile. “He makes everything look so easy.”
It was a challenging two sets for the triumphant duo. They offset the aggressive play of the Smiths by relying on steady returns and sharp volleys. It helped that they converted both of their break points in the first set and were a perfect 2-for-2 with them in the second set.
“It was a close match,” said Holt of Rolling Hills, Calif., and the son of Tracy Austin, the two-time US Open winner and a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. “They were kind of playing a hit-or-miss game and we had to play our best.”
Frye, of Overland Park, Kan., agreed. “That match could have easily gone either way,” he said.
After taking the opening set, the Smiths, a co-No. 3 seed, secured their first break in the second set’s first game when mastering Frye. Then Frye-Holt saved a break point in the third game to slow the Smiths’ comeback.
“We could have gone down 0-3 but we stayed in there and took care of our opportunities,” Frye said.
Frye and Holt broke Colter Smith twice in the deciding set to secure the win. But it wasn’t until converting their third match point, when Tanner Smith sent a forehand wide after a solid Frye offering, that the victory was secured.
Frye and Holt advanced to the finals after disposing of the co-No. 3-seeded USC tandem of Stefan Dostanic / Jake Sands, 7-5, 6-3, in the semifinals.
Smith and Smith reached the tournament’s last match by eliminating UC Berkeley’s Ben Draper and Bjorn Hoffman, the No. 7 seed, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 13-11.
The final, which was played before a capacity crowd under sunny skies after some morning rain, was the culmination of the storied three-day event which consisted of 109 doubles teams.
The draw featured the 16 of the nation’s top college teams and independent duos filled with college coaches, teaching professionals, talented juniors and former touring pros.
“It was as good of a tournament,” Tournament Director Bill Kellogg said, “as we have ever had.”
To view the Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Championship draw, click here.
Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Championship
La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club
La Jolla, Calif.
Sunday’s Results
Men’s Doubles
Championship
Bradley Frye and Brandon Holt (1), USC, def. Tanner Smith and Colter Smith, Long Beach, Calif., 6-4, 6-3
Semifinals
Bradley Frye and Brandon Holt (1), USC, def. Stefan Dostanic and Jake Sands (3), USC, 7-5, 6-3
Tanner Smith and Colter Smith, Long Beach, Calif., def. Ben Draper and Bjorn Hoffmann (7), CAL, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 13-11
For complete scores and results, click here.
