This weekend was made for tennis fans.
Players representing the UCLA men’s and women’s
tennis teams will be competing in four different tournaments this
weekend, at the national and local levels.
Both Erfan Djahangiri and Sara Walker are the lone
representative from their respective men’s and women’s
teams competing in the Omni Hotels National Indoor Championships in
Dallas, Texas.
Only players who have qualified in regional tournaments which
occurred throughout the last month are allowed to play in these
Omni Hotels tournaments
The fact that Walker made the tournament should not surprise
anyone, as she is currently the No. 6 singles player in the
country.
However, Djahangiri is ranked No. 95, and he was the fifth
starter on the team this past season.
“Erfan has been playing very well for us,” UCLA
men’s tennis head coach Billy Martin said.
“Even though he’s always been the fourth, fifth or
sixth starter for us, he gives everyone on the team fits when he
plays against them.”
Locally, eight different players from the men’s team will
play in the Southern California Intercollegiates, played at the Los
Angeles Tennis Club.
With Tobias Clemens and Chris Lam, the Bruins have the top two
seeds at the tournament. Today, Clemens, the No. 2 player in the
country, will play as the No. 1 seed at the tournament. Lam (No.
86) will be the No. 2 seed and Lassi Ketola will be the No. 5
seed.
“Lam definitely deserves the No. 2 seed,” Martin
said. “He did very well in the regionals and beat Clemens in
the regionals.”
Wednesday, three Bruins had to qualify to get into the main draw
of the tournament, including Aaron Yovan, Travis Kinard and Alberto
Francis.
In doubles, Clemens/Ketola (No. 18 nationally) will play as the
No. 1 seed on Friday. Needing to qualify today are Francis/Lam and
Chris Surapol/Yovan.
The women’s team will send four players ““ Jackie
Carleton, Laura Gordon, Sarah Gregg and Anya Loncaric ““ to
the Desert Collegiate Classic, which starts on Friday in Palm
Springs.
Gordon is making her first collegiate appearance for UCLA.