Brandon Holt, ranked 112th in the world, has spent much of this year constantly on the move. “Pretty much non-stop,” the 27-year-old admits.
Since kicking off his season on December 28 at the ATP Challenger event in Canberra, Australia, Holt has traveled extensively — from Thailand and Southern California to Dallas, then Bahrain, India, North America, South Korea, China, and England. But despite the grueling schedule, Holt isn’t complaining.
“These places are so different yet so similar; it’s really special,” he says from his hotel room in Skipton, England, near the Ilkley Challenger. “The people everywhere are amazing. I wouldn’t get to see these places without professional tennis.”
Holt’s journey this year has been about chasing ranking points and, more importantly, focusing on his “process.” Though he exited early in Ilkley and Nottingham, he bounced back in Mallorca with three wins to qualify for the main draw—and cracked the ATP Top 100 for the first time.
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A tough 2-8 stretch followed, but Holt has since won three of his last four matches. His mindset? Stay steady and focused.
“I’m not the most goal-oriented person—process is everything for me,” Holt explains. “And somehow, it always works out and I improve.”
His outlook is practical. One week, he might be the top seed at a tournament, like at this summer’s Hall of Fame Open in Newport or this week at the Lincoln Challenger in Nebraska. The next, he could be unseeded or playing qualifiers.
Fellow American Mitchell Krueger, ranked 241st, shares a similar perspective. With the challenges of constant competition and making a living on tour, he takes it all in stride.
“It’s not glamorous all the time,” Krueger says from Newport, one of his favorite Challenger events. “We’re not often playing at places like this. You just have to take it in stride. I’m 31 and have been around the block compared to younger guys going through it for the first or second time. I know how to handle it.”
On Tuesday night in Lincoln, with fewer than 10 people in the stands, Holt’s triumphant yell echoed after beating 19-year-old Aryan Shah, who retired trailing 4-1 in the third set. Shah is just beginning his pro career, while Holt, though not a senior player by age, is a seasoned veteran of the Challenger circuit.
Best known as the son of tennis legend Tracy Austin, Holt is forging his own path through hard work and dedication. This week’s Lincoln Open marks his 31st tournament in 42 weeks.
“My mom had a huge impact on my development as a player,” Holt says, “but maybe not as much as you might think.”
“I’ve achieved things I never imagined. Giving 100% effort and embracing the journey is what I love most about tennis now.”
