University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Redlicki, Doubles Teams Advance to Rounds of 16
May 24, 2018 | Men's Tennis
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. โ UCLA participants in the NCAA Men's Tennis Singles and Doubles Championships registered an undefeated day at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex Thursday. No. 1 seed Martin Redlicki posted his second three-set singles win in as many days, securing his spot in Friday's Round of 16. The pairs of Austin Rapp-Keegan Smith and Redlicki-Evan Zhu, meanwhile, moved into the Round of 16 of the doubles tournament.
It was a milestone day for Redlicki, who turned in the 200th and 201st combined victories of his career.
The Boca Raton, Fla. native's latest singles win did not come easy, as opponent No. 67 Nicolas Moreno de Alboran of UC Santa Barbara turned in a convincing first-set triumph, 6-2. Redlicki would respond, though, splitting the first two frames with a 6-4 decision in the second. The tightly-contested match eventually found itself knotted at five games apiece in the third, primed for the taking. Once again, the nation's top-ranked player came through, completing his rally with an ace. Redlicki's 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 win set up a Friday (7 a.m., PT) meeting with No. 23 Giovanni Oradini of Mississippi State.
ACE! Redlicki comes back from a set down for the second consecutive day to defeat Moreno de Alboran (UCSB) 2-6, 6-4, 7-5
— UCLA Men's Tennis (@uclatennis) May 24, 2018
Marty is into the NCAA singles round of 16! pic.twitter.com/kLy0Z0n5iS
Redlicki was just getting started when he walked off the court following his 27th singles win of the year Thursday morning. He soon joined forces with Zhu to face the 13th-ranked Kentucky duo of Gus Benson-Cesar Bougois in what would turn out to be yet another three-set match. This time, the first set went the way of UCLA, with the No. 29-ranked pair tallying a 6-3 start. The Wildcat tandem clawed back, though, setting up a 10-point, third-set tiebreaker with a 6-4 answer. Redlicki-Zhu ultimately proved too much, advancing with a 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (6) win. The team will next take on eighth-ranked Korey Lovett-Eero Vasa of UCF in Friday's Round of 16.
Rapp-Smith had a relatively easy go of it in the 16th-ranked pair's opening match. After notching a 6-3 first-set win, the duo returned to double up the No. 11 Vanderbilt combination of Cameron Klinger-Billy Rowe in the second. Rapp-Smith will face the Tulane team of Contantin Schmitz-Ewan Moore Friday.
Doubles match times have yet to be announced. Stay connected to Tournament Central and @uclatennis on Twitter.
Players Mentioned
