University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Washington
Men's Tennis Shuts Out Washington in Pac-12 Opener
February 28, 2020 | Men's Tennis
SEATTLE – The No. 14/22 UCLA men's tennis team recorded a rare 5-0 win over Washington Friday afternoon in the teams' conference opener at Nordstrom Tennis Center.
Sophomore Mathew Tsolakyan clinched the victory for the Bruins (7-4, 1-0 in Pac-12 play) just moments before junior Keegan Smith put the finishing touches on his win. Drew Baird and Govind Nanda were also triumphant in singles play for UCLA. The Bruins also collected a pair of convincing decisions in doubles play. Washington (8-5, 0-1) sent two matches to third sets, but could not put a point on the board.
Junior Bryce Pereira and sophomore Patrick Zahraj made quick work of Huskies Kailuhia Lam and Jack Pulliam to start doubles play and take a firm grasp of momentum. Pereira/Zahraj's 6-0 win improved the duo's record to 7-4 on the campaign, including a 6-3 mark in dual matches.
With Court 1 locked in a five-all tie, Bruins Baird and redshirt junior Connor Rapp sealed the initial point. The pair took down Thibault Cancel/Adam Torocsik, 6-3, to earn its third win in a row and second clincher of the season.
Baird wasted no time getting his first-career conference singles victory under his belt, as he posted a 6-3, 6-4 result against Brandon Wong on Court 3. The Raleigh, N.C. native has now won three of his last four decisions.
Next off was No. 28 Nanda, who fended off No. 43 Davis for a straight-set win of his own, 6-1, 7-5. Nanda moved to 7-3 versus nationally-ranked opponents and saw his dual-match record improve to a team-best 9-2 with the result.
Tsolakyan, who made his dual-match debut at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, won his fourth match in four tries and tallied his second clinching decision in a row with his 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Torocsik on Court 6.
Almost simultaneously, No. 8 Smith picked up a ranked win against No. 119 Ewen Lumsden on the top court. Smith notched a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win to pull even with Nanda at seven victories against nationally-ranked opponents.
UCLA will finish out its road trip Sunday, when it visits the UO Student Tennis Center to face Oregon. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m., PT.
Tennis Match Results
UCLA vs Washington
2/28/2020 at Seattle, WA
(Nordstrom Tennis Center)
#22 UCLA 5, Washington 0
Singles competition
1. #8 Keegan Smith (UCLA) def. #119 Ewen Lumsden (WASH) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
2. #28 Govind Nanda (UCLA) def. #43 Jack Davis (WASH) 6-1, 7-5
3. #124 Drew Baird (UCLA) def. Brandon Wong (WASH) 6-3, 6-4
4. Thibault Cancel (WASH) vs. Ben Goldberg (UCLA) 4-6, 6-5, unfinished
5. Jack Pulliam (WASH) vs. Patrick Zahraj (UCLA) 6-1, 6-7 (1-7), unfinished
6. Mathew Tsolakyan (UCLA) def. Adam Torocsik (WASH) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Alexis Alvarez/Jack Davis (WASH) vs. #24 Govind Nanda/Keegan Smith (UCLA) 5-5, unfinished
2. Drew Baird/Connor Rapp (UCLA) def. Thibault Cancel/Adam Torocsik (WASH) 6-3
3. Bryce Pereira/Patrick Zahraj (UCLA) def. Kailuhia Lam/Jack Pulliam (WASH) 6-0
Match Notes:
UCLA 7-4, 1-0 Pac-12; National ranking #22
Washington 8-5, 0-1 Pac-12
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (3,2,6,1)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2,6,1
Players Mentioned
