Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

No. 3 singles seed Dustin Brown will face unseeded, 17 year old Taylor Fritz in tomorrow’s final round at the Fairfield Men’s Pro Challenger presented by Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Brown’s victory today against American Frances Tiafoe was won in a 3 set, highly eventful thriller which delighted spectators, while Fritz breezed to his win over No. 4 seed Slovenian Blaz Rola in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.

Tiafoe, who normally dictates play in his matches, was put under the gun by Brown’s monstrous serves and innumerable aces, yet he delivered his best performance and biggest effort of the week. Big smiles were not just prevalent throughout the crowd, but from Brown and Tiafoe as well they one upped each other with equally spectacular, “impossible” shots.

Brown applauded Tiafoe’s first set performance as the teen led 4-1, but then Brown delivered his first ace of the day in the 6th game, proceeding to gain momentum to take the set 7-5. Tiafoe earned a hard fought second set win, but began to fall apart in the third, deadening his returns and struggling to keep pace and place the ball. At 2 all in the third, Tiafoe was getting emotional with line calls and an unruly fan that was heckling both players throughout much of the match. Brown proceeded to make an impressive tweener lob mid rally for the next point, and firing his trademark aces to put the pressure on high and take the match.

Tomorrow’s final will be the second meeting for Brown and Fritz, after Fritz upset Brown in a 3 set nail biter in the second round of the $100K Sacramento Challenger last week.

Brown will also play in tomorrow’s doubles final as the No. 1 seeded team with Australian teammate Carsten Ball against No. 2 seeded team of Sweden’s Johan Brunstrom and Denmark’s Frederik Nielsen.

The Fairfield Men’s Pro Challenger resumes tomorrow with matches beginning at 12pm.

The tournament, which is a $50K USTA Pro Circuit and ATP Challenger event, is the last of three men’s USTA Challenger events that swing through northern California, with proceeds to benefit the Chris Cammisa Tennis and Education Foundation (CCTEF).

All events and the tournament are located at 3254 Rancho Solano Parkway; In-Shape: Fairfield Rancho Solano is a multi-recreational, family athletic facility offering health, fitness, sports, recreation and social programs for people of all ages and interests. The tennis facility features 11 lighted tennis courts, and the Cliff Drysdale Tennis-managed program offers instruction, leagues and events for players of all ages and abilities.

Tickets are available on the tournament website at www.fairfieldchallenger.com

Fairfield Men’s Pro Challenge
A USTA Pro Circuit Event
Saturday, October 17, 2015
In-Shape Fairfield: Rancho Solano
Fairfield, CA
Purse: $50,000
Surface: Hard-outdoor

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015 – RESULTS

MAIN DRAW SINGLES – SEMIFINALS
[3] Dustin Brown (GER) def. Frances Tiafoe (USA) 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
Taylor Fritz (USA) def. [4] Blaz Rola (SLO) 6-3, 6-3

MAIN DRAW DOUBLES – SEMIFINALS
[1] Carsten Ball (AUS) / Dustin Brown (GER) def. [4] Mitchell Krueger (USA) / Tennys Sandgren (USA) def. 6-3, 3-6, 10-8

ORDER OF PLAY – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
[3] Dustin Brown (GER) vs. Taylor Fritz (USA)
[2] Johan Brunstrom (SWE)/ Frederik Nielsen (DEN) vs. [1] Dustin Brown (GER) / Carsten Ball (AUS)

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.