Billy Martin fully expected to hold a mandatory practice for the
UCLA men’s tennis team today. He also fully expected to be
home from the ITA National Team Indoors by last Saturday. But the
weekend didn’t exactly turn out as Martin expected. The
now-No. 2 Bruins (7-1) made an almost inconceivable run through the
first three rounds of last weekend’s Indoors before falling
to No. 1 Illinois in Sunday’s championship match. Impressive,
especially considering the Bruin coach felt his team wouldn’t
make it out of the semifinals. “I’m ecstatic,”
Martin said. “I’ve had years where I’ve won (the
Indoors) and I was not quite as happy with the guys as I am this
year.” The format of the Indoors is similar to the format the
Bruins will likely see later in the season in the NCAA Tournament,
when the team would need to win four matches in four days to win
the NCAA championship. It’s an experience that is quite
exhausting, both on the body and the mind. “We put a lot of
effort into the matches, physically and mentally,” junior
Kris Kwinta said. “I’ve never had such mental pressure.
I’ve never been so excited to be competing straight
days.” Realizing the current physical and emotional state of
his team, Martin decided not to resume formal team practices until
Thursday of this week. “They’re tired,” Martin
said. “It’s nice to rejuvenate, because we have a long
season ahead of us.” The Bruins took the day off from tennis
Monday and Tuesday, and the players are encouraged to hit on their
own time today. UCLA’s next match is Feb. 17 at home against
BYU.
LINEUP QUESTIONS: Martin is mulling a lineup
change that would flip-flop Kwinta, who has been playing at No. 4,
with junior Alberto Francis, who has been playing at No. 3. Kwinta
has posted a 6-2 dual match record this season, including three
huge wins in Seattle, and the Bruin coach feels he has earned a
chance to compete at No. 3. But Martin also concedes that Francis
has done a solid job at the position. “I want to give them
both a chance to play, and nobody really deserves to go
down,” Martin said. “I’m in a tough position
because everybody is doing a good job.” Playing position is
important to players with aspirations to make the NCAA individual
tournament, held after the team event. Players have a better chance
to make the individual tournament by playing at a higher
position.
DROP SHOTS:Chris Lam won the USTA Sportsmanship
Award Saturday at the Indoors … Tobias Clemens had his 23-match
win streak snapped against Illinois’ Brian Wilson … Chris
Surapol and Philipp Gruendler may have laid claim to the No. 3
doubles position after a huge win against Illinois.