UCLA
Arizona
No. 2 Bruins Slip Past Arizona, 4-3
February 21, 2004 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 21, 2004
Tucson, Ariz. - A day after falling upset to Arizona State, the second-ranked UCLA men's tennis team rebounded on Saturday to pull out a 4-3 victory over Arizona at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center. UCLA improves to 9-2 overall with the victory, moving its all-time record against the Wildcats to 53-0. Arizona drops to 6-3 overall.
For the second time in as many days, the Bruins found themselves down after doubles play. After splitting on the top two courts, Arizona clinched the doubles point at the No. 3 position, where Whi Kim and Tim Mullane defeated UCLA's Philipp Gruendler / Chris Surapol, 9-8(5).
The Bruins battled back convincingly in singles play, winning the first three matches to finish. First off was court No. 5, where Gruendler defeated Mullane, 6-4, 6-1. That match was followed by court No. 4, where Bruin junior Alberto Francis knocked off Paul Warkentin, 6-4, 6-0. Surapol then put the Bruins ahead 3-1 in the match, defeating Nate Cochrane, 6-4, 6-4.
Just one point away from losing the match, Arizona responded with two victories to tie the dual at 3-3. At the No. 3 position, Arizona's Colin O'Grady defeated Kris Kwinta, 6-3, 6-4. At No. 2 singles, Roger Matalonga knocked off Bruin junior Chris Lam, 7-6(5), 6-2.
Fortunately for UCLA, Bruin No. 1 Tobias Clemens was on top of his game Sunday, as he clinched the 4-3 dual-match victory with a 7-5, 6-2 decision over Kim.
UCLA has just one match next week, as the Bruins host No. 5 Baylor on Thursday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center beginning at 1:30 p.m.
