Daily Bruin File Photo Jean-Noel Grinda,
shown in a match against Pepperdine last year, will be the No. 2
singles player for UCLA.
By Pauline Vu
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
The UCLA men’s tennis team competes in the qualifying
rounds of the Southern California Intercollegiate Tennis
Championships at the Los Angeles Tennis Club today.
For the Bruins, the theme of the tournament seems to be lack of
importance.
“It’s not like we’re gearing up for it or
anything,” sophomore Zac Knysh said.
Though the tournament isn’t all that crucial, good play
there might result in better individual rankings, as well as more
game experience.
“It’s probably the least of the important (events)
that we play in the fall, but I think it’s still good for us
to play, get some more matches in,” UCLA head coach Billy
Martin said.
“It also helps for rankings for the individual
championships that come at the end of the year,” he
added.
The Bruins will compete in the preseason event as individuals,
sending 10 singles players and five doubles teams.
Sophomore Julien Rojer will play at No. 1 singles and senior
Jean-Noel Grinda will play No. 2 singles. Grinda and Rojer are also
UCLA’s No. 1 doubles team, while sophomore Lassi Ketola and
freshman Tobias Clemens represent the Bruins at No. 2.
UCLA is also sending Knysh and sophomores Jared Freedman, Travis
Rettenmaier, and Erfan Djahangiri, senior Chris Sands and junior
Derek Nguyen.
Grinda is the tournament’s No. 1 seed, while Rojer is the
No. 3 seed.
“That just makes me mad,” Rojer said jokingly.
Though the tournament doesn’t mean much, Martin said it
gives him a little more exposure to his team.
“It gives me a good chance to see our guys, see how
they’re coming along,” he said.
“It’s very interesting,” Martin added.
“It’s a challenge for our guys to fight for a spot on
our lineup if they do well and end up having to play each
other.”
Rojer, who could meet up with either Grinda or Clemens, is
looking forward to it.
“I think that will be fun,” Rojer said. “I
haven’t ever played one of my teammates in a
tournament.”
At least one player says that the Southern California tournament
will be important.
“It’s important for us to get the most match
experience, including me,” Rojer said.
“It’s also important for all of our players to get
ranked.”
Currently Grinda is ranked No. 13 in the preseason, Rojer is No.
30, Djahangiri is No. 61 and Ketola is No. 97.
All the top teams in Southern California will be present,
including Pepperdine and USC. UC Irvine, Loyola Marymount and UC
Santa Barbara will also send players.
“It’s a long tradition,” Martin said.
“This tournament’s been around for 50 years.
There’s a lot of Southern California tennis tradition in this
tournament.”
After the qualifying rounds today, the main draw of 64 players
in singles and 32 teams in doubles will begin Thursday.
Martin figures his players will do well.
“We’ll have a very good showing. We have at least
three guys who I think absolutely could win it, and Djahangiri,
Sands and Ketola could have good tournaments too,” he
said.
“It’s not a tough draw this year at all. Basically
the best guys in the tournament are right here,” Knysh said,
nodding his head towards the Sycamore Tennis Courts, where several
of his teammates were still practicing Tuesday afternoon.
Two years ago, Grinda won the singles title, and last year, the
doubles team of Brandon Kramer and Jong-Min Lee (both of whom
graduated last year) won the doubles title. Lee also made it to the
singles finals before losing.