No. 5 seed UCLA men’s tennis (16-6, 10-3 Big Ten) has officially concluded its regular season and will head to the Big Ten tournament in Ojai, California, to open tournament play against No. 4 seed USC (18-6, 10-3). If the squad defeats its crosstown foe, it will face either top-seeded Michigan State (15-8, 12-1) or No. 9 seed Indiana (11-12, 4-9) for the chance to claim its second consecutive Big Ten title. Members of the Daily Bruin men’s tennis beat give their predictions for how the Bruins will fare in tournament play.

Ella Dunderdale

Assistant Sports editor

Prediction: Loss in semifinal

I love an underdog.

But the most appealing part of a Cinderella story is its rarity.

And the Bruins already cashed that check last season.

UCLA delivered a storybook 2024-25 campaign, upsetting top-seeded Ohio State to claim its first Big Ten tournament title and advance to the NCAA quarterfinals despite opening the season with the worst start of coach Billy Martin’s tenure.

And while the Bruins have largely held their own this spring, the results against the conference’s top-tier squads tell a clearer story. They’ve dropped matches to each of the four higher-seeded teams in the bracket, signaling an uphill climb that begins immediately against their crosstown rival.

UCLA has already proven it can beat USC, and the team can do so again, replicating its March 13 win. But a potential matchup with No. 1 seed Michigan State looms large. The Spartans handed the Bruins a 4-2 loss March 29, and with UCLA’s inconsistencies against top-25 conference opponents – compounded by lingering injury concerns – it is hard to see the script flipping this time around.

Chloe Agas

Daily Bruin staff

Prediction: Big Ten champions

I am an optimist.

But perhaps I am a little too optimistic.

Can you blame me for being hopeful during my final year covering UCLA men’s tennis?

Last season was nothing short of a Cinderella story for the Bruins.

They clinched their first-ever Big Ten title, made it to the NCAA quarterfinals – how much more perfect can it get?

If there’s one thing about the Bruins, it is that they will surprise you.

This season, after a 4-3 defeat against then-No. 14 USC on Feb. 21, UCLA managed to exact revenge on its home court with a 4-1 win a few weeks later.

It even managed to notch a top-10 upset against then-No. 9 San Diego.

But with a championship title to defend, there is no room for error, and the path to the finale won’t be easy. No. 5 seed UCLA opens against No. 4 seed USC in the quarterfinal round. If it manages to triumph, a semifinal likely against top-seeded Michigan State awaits.

However, if this season has shown something, it’s that the Bruins have the potential to show out when they need to. Although I won’t be able to step onto the Ojai grounds this time around, I do not need to be when I know what this team is capable of.

And nothing would make my final year covering the Bruins more satisfying than seeing them lift the championship trophy a second time.

Badri Viswanathan

Daily Bruin staff

Prediction: Big Ten champions

Is coach Billy Martin employing preventive or reactive medicine?

The answer may decide the Bruins’ Big Ten tournament fate.

No. 52 junior Spencer Johnson has missed the last four matches for the Bruins with an undisclosed injury. Martin said he was exercising caution with his lead singles player ahead of the postseason.

It is possible the All-American may show lingering injury effects or rust when he touches the court Thursday. After all, he has not played dual match tennis in over three weeks.

But I believe in Martin’s coordination and Johnson’s resilience.

Johnson returned from a 10-week absence last season and finished his sophomore season on a 5-2 streak, anchoring UCLA’s Big Ten tournament and NCAA quarterfinal runs. And just like last season, Johnson will have a peaking core around him as UCLA enters the dance.

There are the returning faces, players who contributed to the Bruins’ title last season. No. 36 redshirt junior Emon van Loben Sels amassed a 14-3 dual match record this season, while No. 87 sophomore Rudy Quan posted a 12-2 record.

And there are new contributors who have bolstered UCLA’s play. Redshirt freshman Cassius Chinlund authored a 16-3 dual match campaign, while junior Andy Nguyen finished his first regular season as a Bruin on a 7-2 conference run.

Going back to back isn’t for the faint of heart. And this UCLA crew has been knocked down and put through the wringer.

But they did it last year. And they will do it again.

Samir Joshi

Daily Bruin contributor

Prediction: Loss in semifinal

In a poetic quarterfinal matchup just 75 miles from the Los Angeles Tennis Center, No. 5 seed UCLA will face its crosstown rival No. 4 seed USC.

As a first-year UCLA student who has not yet felt the sting of postseason defeat, I simply cannot predict a loss to the Trojans.

But would believing the Bruins meet their match in the semifinal be considered pessimistic or realistic?

With a more-than-likely matchup against No. 1 seed Michigan State in Friday’s semifinal – a squad UCLA fell to March 29 – the roster has exposed too many shortcomings against powerhouse Big Ten schools to justify an upset prediction.

With convincing losses to conference foes then-No. 14 Illinois, then-No. 28 Michigan State and then-No. 1 Ohio State – and considering the injury that has plagued junior Spencer Johnson to end the regular season – UCLA would be fortunate to take the three games off Michigan State.

While coach Billy Martin has expressed that he is simply exercising caution in regards to his go-to court one option, Johnson might be rusty coming out of his four-game hiatus.

I can only hope my prediction is wrong, but something tells me that the defending champions may not make it past the gauntlet of conference opponents that await in Ojai.