UCLA
California
No. 4 UCLA Blanks No. 30 California
March 31, 2018 | Men's Tennis
LOS ANGELES โ The No. 4 UCLA men's tennis team secured its second 4-0 win in as many days, blanking No. 30 California at Los Angeles Tennis Center. The top three courts supplied the heroics in singles play, capitalizing on the team's third straight doubles win.
The win marked the eighth in a row for the Bruins, who also blanked UC Irvine (March 27) and No. 3 Stanford (March 30) earlier in the week.
"It was a lot closer than [the score indicated]," UCLA head coach Billy Martin said. "Still, I thought the guys just really came out and did a great job from start to finish.
"It was probably, in my years here at UCLA, as good a weekend against the NorCal team as we've had, because they were both really good teams. They were big matches for us."
The Bruins again endured a fight on the doubles courts, holding a 4-3 lead on each court just past the midway point. The UCLA team of Martin Redlicki-Evan Zhu took two of the next three games against the 13th-ranked team in the nation, though, drawing first blood. A Redlicki ace dispatched the Golden Bear duo of Billy Griffith-J.T. Nishimura to decide the match, 6-4.
With Bruins Bryce Pereira and Maxime Cressy leading Dominic Barretto and Can Kaya, 5-4, the tandem of Austin Rapp and Keegan Smith took matters into its own hands for the second straight match. A day after clinching the doubles point from No. 3 Stanford, the pair did it again with a 6-4 victory over Ben Draper and Jacob Molloy of Cal on Court 2.
Austin Rapp and Keegan Smith clinch the doubles point with a 6-4 win on Court 2!#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/4nnvDxlwvE
โ UCLA Men's Tennis (@uclatennis) March 31, 2018
Singles play could not have started any better for the Bruins, who took all six first sets to begin the second stage of play. Courts 5 and 6 needed a 12th game, while the top-court showdown between No. 1 Redlicki and No. 57 Griffith needed a tiebreaker. The Bruin senior standout made it a clean sweep, though, 7-3.
The top three courts turned out to be the difference for UCLA. No. 45 Smith got off the singles courts first for the second time on the weekend, topping Jacob Molloy of Cal in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.The win marked the 30thโa team highโfor the freshman. He's won seven in a row. No. 102 Zhu also continued his hot play of late, winning his fourth straight without dropping a set. The Irvine, Calif. native dispatched J.T. Nishimura on Court 2 Saturday, 6-4, 6-4, putting the Golden Bears on the brink of elimination.
The nation's top-ranked player would complete the domino effect on the top courts, taking care of Griffith with slightly less drama in the second frame, 7-6 (3), 6-4. Redlicki has now won each of his last four singles decisions against ranked opponents.
Redlicki clinches, 7-6 (3), 6-4!
โ UCLA Men's Tennis (@uclatennis) March 31, 2018
Bruins win, 4-0!#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/fc6QZ81RTZ
The Bruins will not return to LATC until their home finale versus No. 39 Utah on April 20. The Bruins' next match will take place across town, as they visit No. 14 USC on Friday April 6. Play from Marks Stadium will begin at 3 p.m. The Bruins previously defeated the Trojans in a nonconference match, 4-2, at LATC (Feb. 27).
"These are very emotional matches. We were fortunate enough to win the first one here at UCLA. Always tougher over there," Martin said about the upcoming rivalry match. "We've got to be really prepared for a dogfight, as always.
"Looking forward to it. These are fun matches for me as a coach and my team as players. They're never dull, that's for sure."
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2,1
Players Mentioned
