If you had questions, the UCLA men’s tennis team had
answers this weekend.
While many in the tennis world were probably wondering whether
the Bruins could snap a three-match skid, avenge a horrible
early-season loss, and once again assert themselves as legitimate
national title contenders, the players themselves were going coolly
about their business.
And easy business it was, as No. 8 UCLA hammered Arizona and
Arizona State at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on Friday and
Saturday, shutting out both Pac-10 opponents, 7-0.
“This was the true face of the UCLA men’s tennis
team,” senior Tobias Clemens said. “That’s how I
know the UCLA men’s tennis team, and we’re back on
track.”
The wins were a long time coming for the Bruins, who had
previously lost four of their last five, including a depressing 5-2
loss to the Sun Devils in Arizona. It was only the second time
since 1967 that Arizona State had defeated UCLA.
The memory of that February loss, which really signaled the
beginning of the team’s discouraging slide from No. 2 in the
national rankings, was a major point of motivation for
Saturday’s match.
“We definitely wanted to get some payback, and I think we
did,” coach Billy Martin said.
Martin constantly refused to get down on himself or his team
during the losing streak, and he was proud of the heart the Bruins
showed over the weekend.
“We had to make a statement that we are not down,”
Martin said. “We showed ourselves that, coming out here and
being men about the whole thing, and not just pouting.”
The only pouting this weekend likely came from the Bruins’
opponents, especially on Saturday, when UCLA (11-5, 2-1 Pac-10) won
every doubles set and went on to straight set victories in all six
singles matches. It was the kind of all-around performance unseen
from the Bruins since the National Team Indoors in early February,
when UCLA defeated three top-10 teams en route to an appearance in
the finals.
“As a team we were playing very well (in the
Indoors),” junior captain Chris Lam said. “But until
these two matches we hadn’t been playing well as a team
since.
“It’s really good for us to get back on the same
page.”
Lam, who likely struggled more than anyone else in the past
month, was probably the most impressive Bruin this weekend. He beat
Arizona’s Tom Lloyd, 6-1, 6-1, and Arizona State’s Andy
Colombo, 6-3, 6-2.
No. 6-ranked Clemens also got some sweet redemption, as he had
endured a straight-set defeat at the hands of Chris Stewart during
UCLA’s trip to Tempe.
Saturday was a completely different story, as the Bruin
All-American rolled over Stewart to the tune of a 6-3, 6-2
victory.
“I was especially pumped because I lost to that guy in
Arizona, and I should not lose to him,” Clemens said.
“I really wanted to prove to him, and myself, and coach, and
everybody, that I’m the better player.”
UCLA certainly proved itself to be a better team, as the Arizona
schools were totally outplayed in all facets of the game.
Kris Kwinta and Alberto Francis performed well on Courts 3 and
4, Philipp Gruendler cruised at No. 5, and Chris Surapol notched a
pair of victories to run his winning streak to three.
“We always were a little shattered (on the losing
streak),” Clemens said. “One guy was playing well and
the other guys were playing bad. We never really came together.
“But now we’re playing pretty well down the line,
and we’re back.”
These victories are not only important Pac-10 wins, but they
also give the team a needed boost before junior Luben Pampoulov
joins the Bruins in early April. During the losing streak, the
absence of Pampoulov acted as something of an excuse for the
losses.
“It’s not good to just depend on Luben coming
in,” Francis said. “It’s important that we build
some momentum before that.”
Mission accomplished. And questions answered.