UCLA
USC
No. 3 UCLA Shuts Out No. 12 USC, 7-0
February 01, 2002 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 1, 2002
Los Angeles - Facing what was supposed to be its first true test of the 2002 campaign, the No. 3 UCLA men's tennis team outlasted cross-town rival USC Friday, registering a 7-0 victory over the No. 12 Trojans at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
After sweeping all three doubles matches, UCLA (4-0) dropped just one set in singles play, cruising to straight-set victories on five of six courts.
Playing his first match of the year at No. 1 singles, Bruin sophomore Tobias Clemens defeated Andrew Park, 6-3, 6-1. Clemens, who is ranked No. 19 in the country, is on a 13-match winning streak, including three in a row over Park. Before today, he defeated Park in the semifinals of the ITA Regionals in October and in the final of the Southern California Intercollegiates back in November.
At No. 2 singles, junior Rodrigo Grilli breezed past defending Pac-10 singles champion Ryan Moore of USC, registering a 6-1, 6-2 victory in the quickest match of the afternoon. Fellow junior Jean-Julien Rojer was equally impressive at No. 3 singles, downing Trojan freshman Prakash Amritaj, 6-2, 6-2.
Things were a little closer out on the back three courts, however the Bruins still managed to take control. At No. 6 singles, Bruin junior Lassi Ketola outlasted USC's Daniel Langre, 7-5, 6-3. At roughly the same time as that match finished, junior Erfan Djahangiri gave UCLA a 6-0 lead, dispatching of USC's Ruben Torres, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 5 singles.
In the closest match of the afternoon, Bruin sophomore Marcin Matkowski needed three sets to beat Nick Rainey, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 at No. 4 singles.
Next up for UCLA will be the University of Kentucky on Tuesday, Feb. 5 in Louisville. That match is in preparation for the National Team Indoors, Feb. 7-10, also in Louisville. UCLA is the defending champion.
