The UCLA men’s tennis team is used to breaking serve, and
a week focused on breaking for school did not alter that habit. The
Bruins traveled to Arizona for their first Pac-10 encounters this
week and beat both Arizona State and Arizona on 6-1 and 7-0 scores,
respectively.
“The unusual conditions for us (like altitude) are not
always easy to deal with up there, but it was important to
win.” UCLA coach Billy Martin said.
The Bruins started their conference season strong, as all but
two matches were finished in two sets. Out of 18 matches played on
that trip, UCLA lost only one.
“I am very proud of the guys. They showed great
determination, and that is what we need.” Martin said.
Only two matches went into three sets, as junior Philipp
Gruendler was defeated at No. 4 on Friday 1-6, 6-2, 7-5, and
freshman Haythem Abid clinched his match on Saturday in a
tiebreaker 4-6, 6-3 (10-6).
Perhaps the most interesting stat was to be found at the No. 1
spot. Junior Benjamin Kohlloeffel dropped only two games over the
weekend and has become the unquestionable leader of this team.
“He has been incredible, playing really well,”
Martin said.
Kohlloeffel won his matches 6-1, 6-0, and is the No. 2-ranked
player in the country. He might not be the most impressive player
in terms of muscle and height, but the German makes every shot
count. He seems to be able to find the perfect angle at every
corner of the court, and looks as though he has read his
opponent’s game before it has even been played.
“I don’t think I have, in my years as a coach, seen
a player dominate as he does at the moment.” Martin said.
Martin tried yet another combination at UCLA’s most
unstable point, No. 3 doubles, using sophomores Jeremy Drean and
Mathieu Dehaine.
“I wanted to try something different, see what my options
were.” Martin said.
The two did not start playing together at UCLA, as prior to
their arrival in Westwood Drean and Dehaine were the Junior French
Champion team. They won both their matches over the weekend, 8-6 on
Friday and 6-5 (2) on Saturday.
“They are used to playing together, and they did well this
weekend.” Martin said. “But I wouldn’t say this
was a definite decision.”
But even before the dual matches ended, all thoughts turned
toward the Bruins’ next opponent: Stanford on Friday at the
Los Angeles Tennis Center.
“This is going to be a huge game for us, and we really
need all the support we can get,” Martin said.