Coming off arguably the toughest match of the season, a 4-3
thriller over No. 11 Kentucky on Tuesday, the No. 1 UCLA
men’s tennis team was looking to make a statement.
It did just that in a 4-0 win over San Diego State Thursday in
the first round of the USTA/ITA National Team Indoors in
Louisville, Kentucky, improving the team’s record to
10-0.
The indoor tournament is a tremendous change of pace for the
UCLA squad.
But the speed of the courts was no problem yesterday, as the
match against Kentucky provided some much-needed indoor
experience.
“We definitely looked better and more comfortable
indoors,” head coach Billy Martin said.
Sophomore Alberto Francis was one such player who looked quite
comfortable.
Francis made his presence felt in both singles ““ where he
was filling in for the injured Chris Lam, beating SDSU’s Mike
Coelho 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 6 spot ““ and in doubles, teaming
with Erfan Djahangiri to beat Daniel Jung and Gabe Coren 8-1 at No.
3.
Martin was very pleased with both aspects of his play.
“These courts suit him better than our courts do,”
Martin said. “With his big serve, his game is more effective
indoors.”
“In doubles, Alberto and Erfan played their best match of
the year so far,” he said. “That was a good shot in the
arm for the team, winning that one 8-1.”
Riding on the momentum Francis and Djahangiri created, the rest
of the Bruins rolled.
At No. 2 doubles, Tobias Clemens and Lassi Ketola beat Armando
Carrascosa and Felix Hardt, 8-3, securing the doubles point for the
Bruins.
The No. 12-ranked Clemens cruised in singles as well, beating
SDSU’s Oliver Maiberger 6-4, 6-1.
To round out the scoring, Rodrigo Grilli beat Hardt, 7-5, 6-2 at
the No. 3 singles spot.
He showed tremendous heart in the first set, as Hardt was up
5-4, serving for the set.
“Rodrigo broke him, won his serve, and broke him again for
a 7-5 victory. It was great,” Martin said.
The remaining three matches were suspended, as their outcome
would have no influence on the match’s final score.
Ketola was leading, Djahangiri was trailing, and Marcin
Matkowski was tied when play was suspended.
The Bruins will face the tournament’s No. 8 seed, Duke
(6-1), in the second round today.
Though UCLA beat the Blue Devils twice last season and has
eliminated them from the National Team Indoors three of the last
four years, Martin is not looking past them.
“I expect a tough one,” Martin said.
“They’re a very good team, especially
indoors.”
And in what has the makings of the match of the day, Clemens
will face Duke’s No. 1 player and reigning ACC Player of the
Year, Phillip King.
“They’re both very solid players,” Martin
said. “It should be a great match.”