The Bruins opened their final Pac-12 campaign Friday afternoon.

But efforts against a ranked foe couldn’t be replicated for the second straight match.

No. 24 UCLA men’s tennis (7-5, 0-1 Pac-12) dropped a 4-2 decision to No. 20 Arizona State (13-6, 1-0) on Friday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. Despite clinching their first victory against a then-top-10 squad on Sunday, the Bruins couldn’t hang on against the Sun Devils in the first match of conference play.

Sophomore Gianluca Ballotta offered the Sun Devils a repeat of history. After defeating Spencer Brachman in straight sets last season, the Lima local replicated his fortune with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Jacob Bullard.

“I just try to focus on what I’m feeling, what I’m doing wrong,” Ballotta said. “And that really helps with getting my forehand better and stop making silly mistakes.”

Redshirt senior Govind Nanda came back from three back-to-back losses – each against a top-10 squad – to overcome the nation’s third-best player, Murphy Cassone, in two sets 6-4, 6-2.

Coach Billy Martin said Nanda’s individual win showed pedigree.

“This might have been the best player, ranking-wise, he’s played,” Martin said. “So happy to see him get a great win here at UCLA.”

Through the three losses, Nanda failed to clinch a set, going 6-0 through the stretch. On Friday, however, he didn’t allow his nationally ranked opponent the upper hand.

He said changes in his pregame preparation and more time on the court were vital.

“I changed my warmup a little bit today. I think that might have helped a little bit, just get some rhythm,” Nanda said. “(I) did some feeding beforehand, which I think maybe played a part. Also been doing some extra time on court to help fuel my game back to normal.”

But the two Bruin victors’ performances weren’t enough to carry the team to a win.

With two matches left and the Sun Devils up 3-2, freshman Spencer Johnson and redshirt freshman Emon van Loben Sels were the two Bruins on the court, both in their third set.

Van Loben Sels held his own in the first frame before falling in the subsequent two, propelling Arizona State to a 4-2 advantage and cementing its win. Johnson’s match was cut short because of van Loben Sels’ defeat, leaving the scoreboard, which listed 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 4-5, unfinished.

Martin said there was hope for Johnson to clinch the game for a third time this season.

“I still think he was going to win it, but unfortunately, Emon couldn’t get us to that last match again (versus Harvard),” Martin said. “So it really didn’t matter.”

UCLA will face off against Arizona at the LA Tennis Center on Sunday at noon.