The UCLA men’s tennis team could very well be playing its last dual match of the season Thursday as it faces the NCAA tournament’s heavy favorite. Read more...
Photo: Freshman Austin Rapp will likely play Oklahoma freshman Spencer Papa at No. 5 singles in the round-of-16 match against the top-ranked Sooners. (Keila Mayberry/Daily Bruin)
The most significant communications in sports are often the most subtle. Hand signals in doubles tennis fall into this category – easy to miss if they’re not looked for. Read more...
Photo: Freshman Austin Rapp uses hand signals to communicate with his doubles partner, senior co-captain Dennis Mkrtchian. Coach Billy Martin attributes Rapp and Mkrtchian’s success to their on-court chemistry. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)
The lower half of the lineup has been a weakness for UCLA men’s tennis all year. But this weekend’s NCAA Regional suggested coach Billy Martin may have finally found some answers on the back courts. Read more...
Photo: Sophomore Joseph Di Giulio posted a strong performance, winning both his matches this weekend in straight sets at the No. 6 singles position. (Jose Ubeda/Daily Bruin)
There was a lot of uncertainty for UCLA going into the NCAA men’s tennis tournament selection show last week. After losing to the USC Trojans in the semifinal of the Pac-12 tournament, the Bruins were unsure if their performance was enough to earn them hosting privileges for the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Read more...
Photo: Freshman Martin Redlicki will match up against Florida Gulf Coast’s Ricky Ventura in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday. Ventura has a singles record of 19-12, while Redlicki has a singles record of 25-7. (Jose Ubeda/Daily Bruin staff)
It was only their second tournament playing together as a doubles team. “It was hot, it was windy, and we were just playing bad,” Mackie McDonald recalled of the Oklahoma City Open finals last June. Read more...
Photo: Freshman Martin Redlicki (left) and sophomore Mackie McDonald (right), UCLA’s top doubles team, are the No. 12-ranked pair in the country. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)
Sophomore Mackenzie McDonald, freshman Martin Redlicki and junior Karue Sell of UCLA men’s tennis showcase their tennis showman skills and trick shots. Read more...
During practice, Dennis Mkrtchian is a jokester. Until there’s something to play for. If coach Billy Martin has the team play for a small prize or to determine who has to run a suicide, Mkrtchian amps up the intensity, shifting into the hyper-competitive mode he normally reserves for matches. Read more...
Photo: Senior Dennis Mkrtchian, the No. 2 singles player for UCLA, reached a career-high ranking at No. 36 this year. He holds a 13-5 record in 2015. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)
