Among the positive surprises that have surrounded the UCLA
men’s tennis team this season has been the play of sophomore
Mathieu Dehaine.
Dehaine, who has been competing out of the No. 3 singles
position, has won all of his singles matches in straight sets.
“The season is going very well so far,” Dehaine
said. “Although the team is young, there is a fantastic
atmosphere.”
It might come as a surprise to see a second-year student playing
in the top three, but UCLA coach Billy Martin believes Dehaine
plays a crucial role on the team.
“I knew he would be very important to the team from the
beginning,” Martin said.
“He is able to really open the court, with knockout back
and right hands from the back line.”
Dehaine’s game has improved since coming to UCLA last
year.
His serve is stronger, and by concentrating more on his doubles
game, he has been able to work on a weaker game at the net.
“We have been working with Mathieu on focus and
intensity,” Martin said.
“There is room for improvement, but he needs to show more
aggressiveness on the court.”
When the name Dehaine is mentioned, that of sophomore Jeremy
Drean usually follows, as the two French players definitely did not
meet walking around campus.
“Mathieu and Jeremy came as a tandem,” Martin
said.
“I had followed their junior record and heard about them
from friends in France,” he said.
In their final year of studying at INSEP (the best-known French
high school sports academy), Dehaine and Drean contacted tennis
coaches around the U.S., in hopes of a chance to compete in the
American collegiate system.
“Our last choice (was) between Cal or UCLA,” Dehaine
said. “And the facilities here definitely convinced
us.”
Countrymen Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils are only a year
older than Dehaine, yet both are competing (and shining) in Grand
Slams and Davis Cup meets.
Had Dehaine completed his last year at INSEP, he would likely be
seeing his name on the French Open scoreboard as well.
“I could have stayed another year, but I got my high
school diploma and thought it was time to go,” Dehaine
said.
“I wanted to further my education while playing tennis
competitively, something that is impossible to do in France,”
he added.
Although Dehaine admits to missing home and its familiar
surroundings once in a while, he says that the transition to
Californian life has gone very smoothly, and he is enjoying his
experience immensely.
“It was my decision to come here, and I do not regret it
in the slightest,” Dehaine said.