Maybe it was the sour defeat against Baylor in a rematch of last
year’s national title game on Saturday that motivated the
UCLA men’s tennis team. Perhaps it was just because Duke is
the last top-10 team the No. 9 Bruins were to face until the
regional championships. But whatever the reason, the Bruins were a
team that was not to be denied as they defeated the No. 3 Blue
Devils 6-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
“Just the fact that players are still fighting hard for
their match when we have already won 4-0 shows that everybody
wanted to do their job today,” junior Philipp Gruendler
said.
The Bruins turned in perhaps their most inspired performance of
the season, dismissing an elite team that features five seniors and
four top-100 players.
The Bruin doubles teams took quick care of that with the Blue
Devils, with 8-5 wins at No. 1 from juniors Gruendler and Benjamin
Kohlloeffel, while at No. 2 freshman Haythem Abid and junior Chris
Surapol came back from an early break to win on the same score.
However, juniors Mathieu Dehaine and Aaron Yovan added another
close loss to their season’s record, folding 8-6 against
Duke’s Ned Samuelson and No. 4 singles player in the country
Ludovic Walter.
The doubles No. 3 spot has been the weakest point of the Bruin
team this season, leaving Bruin fans puzzled by the coach’s
decision.
“I don’t think I have a better option.” UCLA
coach Billy Martin said. “Dehaine and Yovan are able to do
great things ““ we just have to keep working.”
Martin also said that players who could fill in the ranks are
better singles players.
Although Martin’s decision to pair freshman Michael Look
with Dehaine against Arizona State was a successful one (they won
their match 8-4), he believes that the young Australian player is
still a work in progress.
“Michael is not ready for the physical and psychological
challenge playing both doubles and singles represents.”
Martin said.
The singles were just as straightforward as the doubles, with
straight-set wins from Surapol at the No. 5 position and Gruendler
at No. 4.
When the rest of the matches went to super-tiebreakers,
Kohlloeffel secured his No. 2 rank in the nation by beating
fourth-ranked Walter 6-3, 7-6.
Abid was involved in yet another three-set match, but ultimately
beat 28th-ranked Jonathan Stokke 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
“I have opportunities, but I just don’t concretize
them,” Abid said. “I did not play very well today, but
at least I controlled the match.”
The win against Duke will give the Bruins all they need to
continue the season and prepare for the championships.
“We really needed this badly, for confidence and
ranking,” Martin said.