Senior Gianluca Ballotta moves across the court with the help of a UCLA men’s tennis staff member. Ballotta injured his leg during doubles play but stayed on the court to finish – and win – the match. (Brianna Carlson/Daily Bruin staff)
Gianluca Ballotta gripped his ankle and writhed in pain on the heat-charged asphalt.
The wounded senior was unable to place any weight on his leg.
But Ballotta returned to the court just a few minutes later, using his racket as both a cane and a sword.
Rivalries bring intensity.
But once the matchups are in the rearview, teams look to carry that energy forward.
No. 24 UCLA men’s tennis (9-3, 3-0 Big Ten) will have the chance to do just that as it prepares to face Wisconsin (11-3, 2-2) on Friday and Nebraska (9-6, 1-3) on Sunday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
This post was updated March 12 at 5:15 p.m.
Losing is never easy.
Losing to your biggest rival hurts even more.
But that was the reality the last time the Bruins faced the Trojans – suffering a narrow defeat at David X.
Even the deepest winter eventually yields to the first sign of spring.
And after a cold start to the season, the Bruins are in full bloom as the conference calendar turns.
Mirrors show us a reversed image of ourselves.
And while reflections are timeless, conditions are transient.
The Bruins faced the Hoosiers and Boilermakers in the midst of their worst start to a season in coach Billy Martin’s then-32-year tenure last season.
Rudy Quan had caused the earthquake.
And the landslide was headed straight for him.
Wielding open water bottles and shouting “Let’s go, Rudy,” the Bruins tackled the sophomore in celebration.
All eyes were on Cassius Chinlund as he sat on the bench of court six.
The redshirt freshman’s leg got massaged as the match came down to a deciding third set between Chinlund and Niels Hoffmann.
Tuesday rang in the Year of the Horse.
The first few days of the Lunar New Year bustle with traditional Chinese festivities. Wrapped in classic red outfits symbolizing good fortune and vitality, children stretch out their eager hands to collect long-awaited red packets from loved ones.
No. 15 UCLA men’s tennis (5-2) will face No. 21 USC (7-3) at the David X. Marks Tennis Stadium on Saturday. Daily Bruin reporter Badri Viswanathan delves into the memories that shape the team’s perspective on the crosstown rivalry.
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