The lower half of the lineup has been a weakness for UCLA men’s tennis all year. But this weekend’s NCAA Regional suggested coach Billy Martin may have finally found some answers on the back courts. In two dominant 4-0 wins over Florida Gulf Coast University and No. 19 Texas Tech, No. 16 UCLA grabbed five […]
Author Archives: Matt Cummings
Competitiveness drives Dennis Mkrtchian to succeed on, off the court
During practice, Dennis Mkrtchian is a jokester. Until there’s something to play for. If coach Billy Martin has the team play for a small prize or to determine who has to run a suicide, Mkrtchian amps up the intensity, shifting into the hyper-competitive mode he normally reserves for matches. “When there’s something on the line, […]
UCLA’s Club Sports Training Center opens new treatment options for athletes
Tracy Ayers knows that for any athlete, club or varsity, an injury can be devastating. “People come to me when they’re at their worst, when they’re really really hurt and they’re scared. Granted, it’s not an NCAA sport but this means a lot to them, I mean, these kids dedicate a lot of time,” said […]
Men’s tennis fails to start strong against USC in Pac-12 semifinal
After UCLA dominated doubles a week earlier in a loss against No. 8 USC, the script was flipped from the outset on Friday. The No. 15 Bruins fell behind the Trojans immediately on the first two doubles courts, quickly dropping the doubles point on their way to a 4-1 loss in the semifinal of the […]
Rule change in Big 12 tennis etiquette draws mixed responses from UCLA
His well-worn UCLA basketball jersey already made his allegiances clear. But the fan in the front row did not hesitate to express his displeasure with the Bruins’ crosstown rivals. “I hate USC,” he bellowed to the delight of his fellow students. The scene would have been fairly tame had it come at a football or […]
Men’s tennis faces crosstown rivals in crucial last match of regular season
From a motivation standpoint, men’s tennis coach Billy Martin said he should have it easy when his team takes on USC Thursday. “I don’t ever have to worry about getting my guys up for these matches,” Martin said. “This is what you come to play college tennis for, especially if you’re at UCLA or at […]
UCLA club tennis focuses on team chemistry ahead of national championships
Two years into Grace Lin’s tennis career, the sport had grown too stressful. Then she joined her high school team, where she found that the team aspect could help curb the negative thinking that often clouds a tennis player’s mind. Now a fourth-year computer science student, Lin has experienced the same phenomenon in her four […]