CLAREMONT, September 16, 2018
Former college opponents Martin Redlicki and Brandon Holt will renew their rivalry on Sunday in the singles final of the Claremont Club Pro Classic.
Last year’s finalist and tournament No. 3-seed Redlicki, a former UCLA All-American, beat No. 7 seed Matej Vocel of the Czech Republic, 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. USC’s No. 1 Holt, a junior, continued his impressive play beating former Northwestern player Sam Shropshire, 6-2, 6-1.
“I think Brandon and I have played six or seven times total, including four times last year alone,” said Redlicki, who won three of those matches with one unfinished, including leading the Bruins to victory over the Trojans in the Pac-12 final and the NCAA team quarterfinals with wins over Holt. “We always have tight matches and I will watch some of his match now, but we know each other’s games so well that I’d rather go stretch and rest and get ready for tomorrow.”
Redlicki was the 2013 US Open boys’ doubles champion and twice won the NCAA doubles title at UCLA with two different partners. He and his brother, Michael, both trained as juniors at the USTA National Training Center in Boca Raton, Fla.
“I was really just able to get one more ball back,” said Redlicki, who lost to his former college teammate Karue Sell in last year’s Claremont Club final. “I was up 6-4 in the tiebreaker and let him come back to 6-6 before finishing it. The conditions here are amazing. It’s sunny and 75 degrees and the courts are playing great and just the right speed for me.”
The singles final will be played at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning.
“It’s been great to see the progression of the college players, especially the Southern California players, over the years,” tournament host and Claremont Club Director of Tennis Barry Friedman said. “It’s just been a great year, our 23rd year putting on this pro event. The players have been so accommodating and our fans have loved the amazing level of play that’s been on display all week. We are looking forward to a great final between Marty and Brandon.”
Saturday’s Semifinal Singles Scores
Martin Redlicki (US) [3] def. Matej Vocel (CZE) [7], 7-6 (6), 6-4
Brandon Holt (US) def. Sam Shropshire (US), 6-2, 6-1
Friday Doubles Final Score
Robert Kelly (US) / Korey Lovett (US) def. Paul Oosterbaan (US) / Sam Shropshire (US), 7-6 (3), 6-4
