The UCLA men’s tennis team ran into yet another roadblock in its season when its Friday match against No. 14 Stanford was postponed because of rain. It was the third time UCLA has seen one of its matches postponed or canceled so far this season.
But this time, the Bruins didn’t let the rain get them down.
The No. 7 Bruins bounced back Saturday to defeat No. 15 California, 4-3, on the Golden Bears’ home court in Berkeley.
After a strong doubles performance, in which the Bruin tandem of senior Haythem Abid and junior Nick Meister defeated Cal’s No. 33 duo of Jonathan Dahan and Pedro Zerbini to clinch the doubles point, UCLA captured the first two singles matches to go up 3-0 in the dual meet.
Playing in the third singles position for UCLA, junior Amit Inbar made quick work of Dahan, winning in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. Abid then dispatched of Zerbini in straight sets as well, 7-6 (4), 6-3. And after one singles victory by Cal on the second court, senior Matt Brooklyn clinched the match for the Bruins, defeating Cal’s Bozhidar Katsarov, 7-6 (4), 6-2, on court five.
The Bruins now improve to 6-2, while the Bears drop to 7-2 on the season. Next up for UCLA is a crosstown showdown with the No. 5 Trojans on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
Compiled by Brantley Watson, Bruin Sports senior staff.