It’s now something of a routine. One more weekend, two
more wins for the UCLA men’s tennis team.
In what seems to have become habit of late, the No. 4 Bruins
made easy work of two more conference opponents over the weekend.
This time the victims were Oregon and Washington, who fell 6-1 and
5-2, respectively.
Afterward, the Bruins (16-5, 4-1 Pac-10) viewed these solid road
victories as more than just two matches in a win streak that has
reached seven. More importantly, they saw the road matches as great
preparation for the coming NCAA Tournament.
“I was quite happy with how the guys played in sort of
hostile territory,” coach Billy Martin said.
Martin pointed out that the NCAA Tournament will be held in
Tulsa and not Westwood, and without the comforts of home, the team
must learn to handle an opposing crowd.
“It was just good preparation for us on the road,”
Martin said. “We didn’t get rattled with a crowd that
is rooting against us and heckling us a little bit.”
UCLA was never really challenged in either match, and perhaps
the best news of the weekend was the once-again dominating play of
junior Luben Pampoulov.
The weekend marked Pampoulov’s first road matches with the
team after gaining his eligibility for the Bruins’ April 2
win over California. On Friday, Pampoulov defeated Oregon’s
Manuel Kost, 7-5, 6-0, and he followed that up with a 6-2, 7-5
victory over Alex Slovik on Saturday.
“It’s getting better and better,” Pampoulov
said. “I’m getting back to playing how I was playing
before coming to UCLA.”
Pampoulov admitted he was nervous before his first couple of
matches, but said he is getting more comfortable as time goes on.
He is 4-0 with the Bruins, and each win has been in straight
sets.
“I’m happy with my game,” Pampoulov said.
Martin is certainly pleased with what he has seen from his new
No. 2 player, and he expects to see many more straight set
victories in Pampoulov’s career.
“I’m impressed with him mentally as much as
anything,” Martin said.
The rest of the Bruin lineup was relatively solid throughout the
weekend. Senior Tobias Clemens was the only Bruin to lose Friday,
as Chris Lam, Alberto Francis, Kris Kwinta and Philipp Gruendler
all posted straight-set victories.
On Saturday, sixth-ranked Clemens lost once again after the team
score had already been decided. Lam was the only other Bruin to
lose Saturday.
But Martin preferred to instead focus on the positives. The
Bruin coach said the consistent doubles play is perhaps the most
encouraging aspect of the team right now.
The insertion of Pampoulov into the lineup has shuffled the
doubles pairings at No. 2 and No. 3. Pampoulov is now paired with
Gruendler at No. 2, while Clemens and sophomore Chris Surapol have
joined together at No. 3.
“The doubles guys are getting more and more comfortable
with each other,” Martin said.
Surapol, who was recently bumped from the singles lineup to make
room for Pampoulov, is happy with the way he and Clemens have
developed.
“The chemistry is getting better and better,”
Surapol said. “We’re playing really well
together.”
UCLA won the doubles point against both Oregon (9-8, 1-4) and
Washington (13-8, 3-3). In fact, the Bruins have taken the doubles
point in the team’s last nine matches.
With only two regular-season matches remaining, to be played in
the Bay Area this weekend, the Bruins are pleased to leave the
Pacific Northwest with two victories.
“We survived and did pretty well,” Martin said.
But it’s just a part of the routine.