UCLA men’s tennis suffers first loss to Arizona in program history
By Daily Bruin Staff
April 11, 2010 9:00 p.m.
The UCLA men’s tennis team lost to conference opponent Arizona for the first time in program history in Tucson, Ariz., on Sunday afternoon.
The No. 10 Bruins (13-6, 3-2 Pac-10) dropped the dual match to the No. 35 Wildcats (13-9, 2-4) by a final score of 4-3.
Despite winning matches on three of the top four singles courts, UCLA could not overcome the early lost point in doubles play and two devastating three-set defeats in singles that clinched the historic day for its opponent.
The deciding match was left up to freshman Maxime Tabatruong on court No. 5. The young Frenchman had a close tie-break victory in the first set, but it was not enough to save him ““ and the Bruins ““ from an eventual 6-7 (10-8), 6-1, 6-4 loss.
Once again, UCLA was without its usual No. 1 singles player, redshirt senior Haythem Abid, who was relegated to a doubles-only showing in which him and teammate junior Holden Seguso lost 8-6. Abid has battled a wrist injury for most of the spring season and will probably not rejoin the team in a full capacity until the start of the NCAA Regional Tournament in May.
On the plus side for the Bruins, junior Nick Meister managed another impressive performance filling in for Abid on the first court, beating the Wildcats’ No. 1 player, senior Andres Arango in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (4).
UCLA was 62-0 all-time against Arizona before the match. The Bruins will play their last Pac-10 dual match of the season against the rival Trojans at USC’s home courts on Friday afternoon.
Compiled by Eli Smukler, Bruin Sports senior staff
