Brandon Holt Makes History with 2025 DafaNews Bengaluru Open Title Victory Over Shintaro Mochizuki
American Tennis Star Clinches His Second ATP Challenger Title of the Year, Becoming the First American Champion in Bengaluru Open History
BNH NETWORK
Bengaluru, March 2, 2025 – In a dominant display of skill and poise, American tennis player Brandon Holt captured the 2025 DafaNews Bengaluru Open title, overcoming Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki 6-3, 6-3 in the final. This victory marked Holt’s second ATP Challenger title of the year and made him the first American to win the prestigious Bengaluru Open title in the tournament’s nine-year history.
Held at the KSLTA Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru, the DafaNews Bengaluru Open is India’s premier international tennis event, with an ATP Challenger 125 ranking. The tournament, organized by the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA), saw Holt’s impressive triumph, which delighted a full house of fans cheering for their favorite players.
Match Overview: Holt, the third seed and son of Tennis Hall of Famer Tracy Austin, started strong, saving two break points in his opening service game. He then capitalized on unforced errors from Mochizuki, storming to an early 3-0 lead. A string of powerful serves and aggressive play put the American in complete control, breaking Mochizuki again in the sixth game to take a 5-1 lead. Despite a late surge from the Japanese player, Holt clinched the first set 6-3 in 36 minutes.
The second set followed a similar script, with Holt breaking Mochizuki twice early to race to a 3-0 lead. Mochizuki, fired up by the passionate crowd, managed to fight back, converting one of three break points in game four to get on the scoreboard. However, Holt’s resilience and aggressive net play helped him seize the momentum once more, breaking Mochizuki in the ninth game to seal a 6-3, 6-3 victory in just 82 minutes.
Key Statistics:
Brandon Holt: 6-3, 6-3 win, earning USD 28,400 and 125 ATP points.
Shintaro Mochizuki: Runner-up, receiving USD 16,700 and 75 ATP points.
The victory not only added another ATP Challenger title to Holt’s career but also made history as the first American to win the Bengaluru Open. Holt had previously won the Nonthaburi Challenger earlier in the season, showing consistent form throughout 2025.
Doubles Title: In other action at the tournament, top-seeded duo Anirudh Chandrasekar and Ray Ho claimed the doubles title after defeating second seeds Blake Bayldon and Matthew Christopher Romios 6-2, 6-4.
Crowd Reaction: The match was an emotional affair, with local tennis icons Prajnesh Gunneswaran, Somdev Devvarman, and Vishnu Vardhan providing expert commentary. The audience roared with excitement during intense rallies, particularly when Mochizuki hit a stunning forehand cross-court winner. Despite the thrilling exchanges, Holt's clinical performance ensured he maintained control of the match, much to the delight of the spectators.
Conclusion: With his victory at the 2025 DafaNews Bengaluru Open, Brandon Holt continues to establish himself as a rising star in the world of tennis, building on his early success in the year. As the first American to win this event, his achievement is likely to be remembered as a historic moment in the tournament’s history.
