M. tennis puts talent to test at UNLV
After easy victories, Bruins buckle down for challenging
play
By Mark Shapiro
After two consecutive easy victories to open the season, UCLA
men’s tennis will face its first true test as it does battle with
the University of Nevada-Las Vegas on Saturday at the Los Angeles
Tennis Center.
Thus far, the Bruins have had an easy go of it, but with the
Palm Springs Invitational a week away and Pepperdine looming in
February, the squad is relishing the chance to put its talent to
the test.
"They’re going to be far and above a better team than the first
two teams we have played," UCLA head coach Billy Martin said.
"We’re ready for a tough match and we need to start playing some
tough matches to raise our level of expectation."
The Runnin’ Rebels, who open their season at Pepperdine today,
are led by Swedish import Roger Pettersson, who has had ample
experience playing UCLA in his four years.
"Pettersson is as good a player as there is in the country,"
Martin said. "He’s been here four times so it’s nothing new to
him."
Once again, however, the Bruins’ depth gives them an advantage
over a Rebel squad that thins out after the top spots. The lineup
that has carried the Bruins through their first two matches will be
intact for this meeting, and will also see the return of juniors
Eric Lin and Jason Thompson in doubles.
"Their top of the lineup is very good, hopefully we’ll be a
little stronger depth-wise," Martin said. "This has always been a
hard-fighting team."
* * *
In his first dual match as a Bruin against UC Santa Barbara,
senior Srdjan Muskatirovic took a measly 35 minutes to dispatch of
his opponent 6-0, 6-0. The only reason he even broke a sweat in the
late afternoon cool was because he had just wrapped up a doubles
match with teammate Justin Gimelstob.
"It’s a matter of concentration and (the shutout) breaks up
easily when you doze off or something happens that breaks your
concentration," Muskatirovic said. "When I keep my focus, I’m
positive that I can play good tennis."
Not only did he notch the double bagel, he won his next singles
match on Wednesday and has won both of his doubles matches. Tally
those results next to his co-captain position, and this transfer
from the University of Miami has certainly made his presence
felt.
"It’s definitely important to me," Muskatirovic said. "I want to
show the coaches that they did the right thing bringing me here.
From both of those points, I did well."
Muskatirovic’s showing was followed up against the University of
Pacific by junior Eric Taino. Taino teamed with sophomore Matt
Breen to whitewash their opponents, 8-0, in doubles and then went
on to take 11 straight games from Ole Olsen in singles in his 6-0,
6-1 victory.
FRED HE/Daily Bruin
Sophomore Justin Gimelstob tops the UCLA singles ladder as the
Bruins take on UNLV at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on
Saturday.