Janecek hopes to return to form at Pac-10s
By Sarah Harrison
High performance race cars continually need tune-ups and
revamping, while the drivers need to mentally prepare and
strategize for the race. Today starts the fine tuning and mental
preparation for another sport, tennis, as the UCLA men’s team
enters the Pac-10 Championships in an effort to regroup before the
NCAA Regionals.
"The biggest thing about the Pac-10 Championships is that it
gives the guys a chance to sharpen up," Stanford head coach Richard
Gould said. "It also gives guys, who normally play in the 4 or 5
singles spot a chance to get some wins that they might not normally
get."
Bruin freshman Matt Breen, who has played in the No. 4, 5 and 6
singles position this year, is looking forward to gaining that
experience.
"It is good for me because during the season, I don’t get to
play any of the No. 1s or No. 2s," he said. "It is good because I
can gauge myself against some of the best players in the country,
and maybe get a win or two out of the tournament."
The Pac-10 is an individual tournament, allowing players to
focus on their strengths and weaknesses during match performances.
After this weekend’s losses to California and Stanford, the Bruins
will need these championships to hone their skills and prepare for
NCAA Regionals next weekend.
"It is a completely individual tournament, every guy for
himself," UCLA head coach Billy Martin said. " I am sure that some
of the guys are not feeling too great after this weekend.
Hopefully, they can get back on track and get their confidence for
the NCAAs."
Robert Janecek in particular is hoping to get his game back.
After playing all season in the No. 1 spot, he dropped to the No. 3
singles position last weekend and lost both of his matches. These
championships will give this senior captain a chance to prove
himself again.
"I hope I can get my desire back," Janecek said. "The Pac-10
Championships are just individuals, so it will be more for myself.
I have to start somewhere. I won’t be seeded, so my chances of
playing a top player are higher. I just want to play."
Eric Taino has just moved up in the national rankings to No. 16
and will probably be among the top eight seeds, but he is also just
looking to play well this weekend.
"I don’t think rankings really matter right now." Taino said.
"The Pac-10 tournament can really change your rankings, so it is
pretty important, but I just want to continue playing the way that
I have been. I am serving well, returning well and have been doing
a lot of things better in the past few weeks. I think that I have
found a new intensity and I want to keep it going, win or
lose."
UCLA can only send five players, so Eric Lin will be playing in
the open collegiate event, which is usually made up of the No. 6
and No. 7 players on the team. Lin will enter as the defending
champion.
UCLA’s two other players in the championships will be Heath
Montgomery and Justin Gimelstob. Gimelstob got some playing time in
the No. 1 position against Cal and Stanford, and this weekend will
give him even more experience playing against top players.
"I am looking to get some matches under my belt and work on the
things that I am trying to improve," Gimelstob said. "It is just
another tournament for me. It is important, but I look at it as
just more matches, hopefully, on the way to Georgia (for the NCAA
Championships)."
"Most of all you want to stay healthy," Gould said. "That is the
most important thing from now on. That is going to have a lot to do
with who is going to play in the NCAAs. That is going to increase a
team’s chances, no matter who it is."