Thursday, November 6th, 2025

10:44 a.m.

Didn't play my best, Ronan played well. I missed a lot of returns. I don't know if it was the conditions that changed - there is a little bit of wind and it did heat up a little more - but I think it probably goes slower. I just couldn't put a return in and I'm definitely not gonna win a match like that in rally scoring. But yeah, another quarters!

I have mixed tomorrow, playing with really good friend of mine, Emily. Super excited. One of the last times we played was Delray Beach and we got to the quarters so I'm excited to run it back with her. Always super fun being on court with her. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow, so hopefully she's looking forward to it too.

For tonight, I ate some pasta last night, so maybe I'll go back there and eat some pasta. Maybe we'll change it up, we are in Arizona so maybe we'll go to a little Mexican place or something, and probably have some good Mexican food. Maybe I'll call up Emily. We'll get some good team chemistry over some guacamole and chips, maybe a couple margaritas before we play tomorrow, to get a little tuned up, loosened up. So yeah, you know, couple tequila shots for tonight, and we'll be ready to go in the morning.

(Emily was next to me this whole time!) 

9:38 a.m.

Second round, I played Elliott Schupp, good APP Next kid, another lefty, which was fun. I already had the reps from earlier, from Kento. So I found the patterns, he gave me a run for my money in that second one but I got the job done. Excited to move on to the quarters. I got Ronan, and unfortunately, he's got my got my number on that one, so hopefully I can change it! Shoot, the way I'm feeling today, maybe make me a little faster and give me that win that I've been looking for!

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8:41 a.m.

Round one, done. Feeling really good, actually, that was probably one of the best matches I played the last couple tournaments. Feeling good now, waiting on Max (Purple Jesus) or Elliott Schupp. Purple Jesus, shoot. I've played Purple Jesus probably at least 10-12 times this year. I mean, if they're not doing a "30 for 30" on us by the end of the year, I don't know what to say. Love the guy to death. Good competitor, good guy. We always pretty much go three sets. He probably wants to go two. I probably want to go two, but I guess we make it three just to get the people what they asked for. And then Schupp, I don't know, I've seen him in the qualities, but he's in three right now with Max and battling. But you know, I wouldn't mind playing him. I just played a lefty, so kind of same patterns will be working for me. But yeah, I'm excited. I'm feeling good and feeling pretty fast, actually!

7:55 a.m.

Hey guys, Brandon lane here! We just arrived in Mesa, Arizona. Well, I arrived on Monday. This is definitely one of the tournaments I come to a little earlier, just because the air is a little thinner, harder to breathe with all the dust going in your lungs. But you know, you can't get enough of the nice Arizona sunsets, so that's good. I always come out here early too. I dye my hair every year. This year I went with cheetah print! We'll definitely make sure we have some good photos of that.

One of my best friends lives out here, and like I said, before, it's good to come out and play a couple games, get a couple of days of practice before the match starts. Way different conditions in Florida. I'm used to hot, heavy, humid, sluggish, sweaty conditions. So this is a little faster, but I got the cheetah on my head today, so I'll be even quicker than what we're used for.

We have a huge Airbnb here. They actually have Galaga! Galaga, the old arcade game - I've been playing a lot of Galaga at night, just kind of preparing myself, like, you know, dodging bullets. Then also they have - what's it called - Space Invaders! So been playing a lot of arcade games the last couple days. So trying to get my reaction and my hands ready.

Singles today. Everyone's good now. I get to play Kento, a good buddy of mine, in the first round, and he's a lefty, so I have to kind of change my game plan. I'm used to playing righties and going to the backhand, now I have to go to the other side. I just practiced hitting those other shots today, but yeah, gonna go out there, give it my all, and hopefully we'll be talking about second round here in a little bit!