With win against Washington, UCLA men’s tennis secures winning Pac-12 record
UCLA men’s tennis captains, redshirt senior Govind Nanda and junior Alexander Hoogmartens, high five one another during a doubles match. The pair has won six of eight doubles contests this season and are currently on a five-game winning streak. (Nicolas Greamo/Daily Bruin senior staff)
Men's Tennis
| No. 25 UCLA | 4 |
| Washington | 0 |
By Lamar Tuker
April 8, 2024 2:41 p.m.
This post was updated April 9 at 10:01 p.m.
The Bruins kept the Huskies’ scoring stagnant in Sunday’s victory.
No. 25 UCLA men’s tennis (10-6, 3-2 Pac-12) bested Washington (8-11, 2-3) at Bill Quillian Tennis Stadium. The 4-0 result granted the Bruins a winning record in Pac-12 play.
Junior Alexander Hoogmartens and redshirt senior Govind Nanda were responsible for 75% of the Bruins’ points. The pair commanded UCLA’s first point, with a 6-3 victory in the doubles.
Both Bruins also took the limelight in the singles, as Nanda was the first Bruin to claim a win 6-0, 7-5. After senior Jorge Plans Gonzalez’s straight-set triumph, Hoogmartens tied the knot for the Bruins and cemented the Huskies fate with a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
The duo – who are also UCLA’s captains – have both recently returned from injury. Nanda said he’s glad his performance has been unaffected.
“The last couple matches are the best matches I’ve played since I’ve come back from injury, which is obviously a great sign,” Nanda said. “Just looking to continue building on it, continue focusing on the day-to-day process and go from there.”
The Bruins returned from an early doubles loss – as redshirt junior Timothy Li and junior Giacomo Revelli’s slump extended to nine games without a win – with freshman Spencer Johnson and redshirt freshman Emon van Loben Sels posting a 6-1 finish and the Bruin captains’ win.
Coach Billy Martin said Hoogmartens and Nanda are an essential part of the team.
“I felt confident that we would be a very good team if we were capable of getting them both healthy and back into our lineup. Without either one of them, I don’t think we’re nearly as good a team,” Martin said. “But when they’ve been playing in matches, I feel we can compete with almost anybody.”
The fate of three Bruins’ matches remained undetermined. Johnson left his game tied against his opponent 6-4, 5-5, unfinished.
Meanwhile, Revelli had his match paused with his opponent in the lead 6-3, 5-4, unfinished. Sophomore Gianluca Ballotta had the advantage in his first set only for the score to be reversed in the second 6-4, 6-4, unfinished.
“I think we just felt a little bit more comfortable after playing the other day up here, and especially winning that tight match,” Martin said. “Sometimes you just build a little confidence, and I think that helped us a little bit.”
