The dual match was sealed with a duel on Saturday.

A 26-shot rally with victory hanging in the balance.

Sneakers squeaked. A pair of rackets authored a rhythmic melody that persisted for a full minute. Back and forth. Left to right.

An errant shot fell into the doubles alley.

A raised fist transformed into a fist pump of victory.

No. 19 UCLA women’s tennis (4-2) defeated San Diego (4-4) 6-1 Saturday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. The Bruins have dropped just one point across the last two matches after a loss to then-No. 16 California on Jan. 30.

“I think we did a really good job of doubles,” said coach Stella Sampras Webster. “We had a slow start in a few of them, but I was really happy with the way they competed. They didn’t panic because USD is tough.”

Sophomore Olivia Center clinched the Bruins’ victory with a 6-2, 6-4 win against Maria Shmakova, marking a 4-2 start to her singles season.

The match culminated in an extended rally that spanned over a minute.

“It takes a lot,” Center said. “Knowing it was the final point, I was trying to give it everything I had. It was pretty tight in the second (set), and one point can change everything. I was at 40-15, but I had a lot of urgency to win that point and close it out there.”

Center decided the dual match on Saturday.

She also kick-started the Bruin festivities.

Center and fellow sophomore Kate Fakih, ranked No. 64, opened the afternoon with a doubles victory against Vilma Krebs Hyllested and Kristina Nordikyan 6-1, increasing their doubles record to 4-1 on the season.

The pair went 17-6 in doubles dual matches and earned All-American honors for their run to the NCAA tournament final as freshmen last season.

And Fakih says the pair has gotten even better in 2026.

“We’re just more aware of how we feel on the court, the different situations, with no ad especially,” Fakih said. “We’re talking to each other more, and we’re more aware of the crowd and the other outside aspects. And I think that’s totally helped us, and it set us up very nicely for our start.”

In singles, No. 119 Fakih defeated No. 53 Hannah Read 6-2, 6-2. The sophomore last faced Read in the ITA West Sectionals on Nov. 6, where she defeated the 2025 WCC Co-Freshman of the Year 7-6 (3), 6-3. Fakih said she applied insights from that match on Saturday.

The Bruins clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 victory by senior Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer and junior Ahmani Guichard over Read and Anni Moll.

Sampras Webster said Lutkemeyer was battling illness and agreed to play only doubles on Saturday.

The move shifted the Bruins’ singles lineup up one slot in her absence, allowing freshman Rona Rugara to get her first taste of collegiate tennis.

“She’s (Lutkemeyer) just a warrior,” Sampras Webster said. “She wanted to play singles too, but yesterday, she didn’t even practice because she was feeling so bad. But she comes out here, and she just wants to play, and that’s what you want in a teammate.”

Earlier in the season, Sampras Webster said the Bruins would play early-season matches until the final set, even after clinching the victory. That trend continued on Saturday, with three singles matches continuing after Center’s win.

The match closed on court three. The Bruins, holding a 5-1 lead, were looking to add window dressing to their win.

The eight other UCLA players, along with coaches and spectators, shifted their gaze to the third set between junior Bianca Fernandez and Ines Leon.

Fernandez showcased her repertoire by varying her shot selection to include slices, angles and drop shots. She won 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, sparking an ovation and roars from the crowd.

“I love watching Bianca play,” Fakih said. “She stresses me out. But it’s also fun to see her come up with random shots that we usually have to play against, but seeing someone else struggle.”

The sun was still high in the sky as the Bruins celebrated Saturday.

Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” blared through the Los Angeles Tennis Center speakers.

The song captured the Bruins’ victory with three lines:

“‘Cause the sun is shining all the time.

Looks like another perfect day.

I love L.A.”