Brandon Davis’ collegiate tennis career has just started, but he is already making waves at the professional level.

Davis, a sophomore on the Illinois tennis team, joined his brother – former Texas A&M; standout Tres Davis – to win the United States Tennis Association/Ursula Beck Pro Tennis Tournament.

The USTA/Ursula Beck Pro Tennis Tournament in Decatur, Ill., is a futures tournament that features some of the best up-and-coming professionals as well as top collegiate tennis players. Although Tres Davis has won several titles since turning pro after his freshman year at Texas A&M;, the title was Brandon Davis’ first at the professional level.

“For me, it was definitely one of my biggest accomplishments to date,” Brandon Davis said. “The junior titles are awesome, but they don’t compare.”

One of the reasons this title stands out, Brandon Davis said, was because he was able to share the victory with his brother.

“He’s just an incredible tennis player – he’s really great at doubles and we’re best friends, so we meshed pretty well on the court,” Brandon Davis said.

Tres Davis was an All-American at Texas A&M.; His younger brother aspires to similar goals while at Illinois.

Illinois head coach Brad Dancer said he sees this win as a stepping stone in the young Illini’s career.

“Brandon has made such great leaps forward,” Dancer said. “He has such tremendous value to the team and is a person of such high integrity. He just has such a great spirit.”

Brandon Davis’ ability to perform well under pressure was evident throughout the tournament. The tandem had to play and win two matches in the qualifying tournament to even reach the main draw of the tournament. After that, they had to win four matches to take the title.

However, the extra matches might have helped the tandem because they had more time to get into a rhythm and get comfortable with each other’s playing styles, Brandon Davis said.

The men had several notable victories throughout the tournament. During the men’s first-round match, the tandem defeated former Illini Phil Stolt and partner Daniel King-Turner.

Stolt was an All-American at Illinois and a member of the Illini team that won the NCAA National Team Title in 2003. But Brandon Davis said he did not let Stolt’s legacy at Illinois intimidate him.

“When you’re in the moment of battle you don’t think about that,” Brandon Davis said. “But, afterward, when you think about it, it’s great to know that you can compete at that level.”

The Davis tandem also defeated Illini Kevin Anderson and his partner Stephen Mitchell of South Africa in the second round. During the third round, the brothers topped the tournament’s No.1-seeded doubles team of Eric Butorac and Chris Drake. The men’s final win came over Australia’s Sadik Kadir and Daniel Wendler.

Dancer said he expects that Brandon Davis will continue to be one of the team’s leaders this season. The sophomore made an immediate impact on the team last year because of his dedication and his positive attitude. However, Dancer said, that the confidence Brandon Davis gained by winning his first professional title should translate into more success for the Illini during his sophomore year.

Brandon Davis agreed.

“Winning the tournament was awesome, and I’m definitely going to take that confidence into the fall,” he said. “If I can do it on the pro circuit, I can do it at the collegiate level.”