PATIL ARMENIAN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Sophomore
Jean-Julien Rojer smacks the ball in a match
against BYU this January.
By Rekha Rao
Daily Bruin Contributor
Two members of the UCLA men’s tennis team will travel to
Dallas this weekend to take on some of the nation’s top
ranked at the ITA Rolex National Championships.
Sophomore Jean-Julien Rojer and senior Jean-Noel Grinda play as
a doubles team in the tournament, and Rojer will compete in the
singles tournament.
The doubles play will include the top 16 teams from across the
nation, while the singles play will include the top 32 players from
the same top schools.
“It is a good chance to play against other top
players,” Rojer said.
Rojer and Grinda are currently ranked No. 3 in the nation and
have been steadily improving their play over the last three season
matches. On Jan. 19, the two lost their first match together in the
season to Carlos Lozano and Gert Vilms of BYU, 8-6.
Their first victory came against Arizona Friday, when they
defeated Steven Capriati and Whi Kim 8-5.
MEN’S TENNIS PREVIEW vs. ITA National
Championships Today-Sunday All day Dallas, Texas
Their second win of the season came against Arizona State on
Saturday, when they defeated Mitchell Bowen and Matt Klinger
8-5.
Rojer and Grinda have been the No. 1 team for the Bruins since
the beginning of the season. But they will face tough competition
in the upcoming weekend.
“Since the top 16 teams in the country will be there, it
will be very tough,” Grinda said.
This tournament is different than league matches because it is
played indoors. The players have mixed feelings about the change in
environment.
“The indoor matches suits our game a lot,” Rojer
said.
But Grinda had another reaction. “I am not used to playing
indoors. I am looking forward to playing with Rojer, but I am still
hoping to get into the singles matches.”
Grinda, although ready to play with his doubles partner, is also
hoping to play in the singles action as well.
“Jean-Noel is the first or second alternate, there is a
good chance that he can get in,” head coach Billy Martin
said.
Up next for the Bruins is a home match against Georgia Tech on
Feb. 9.