Nanda Voted Pac-12 Player of the Week

SAN FRANCISCO – Fresh off his initial match play of the 2020-21 season, Govind Nanda was named Pac-12 Player of the Week for March 22-28, the conference announced Wednesday.

Nanda played the role of hero in UCLA's 4-3 home victory over Stanford March 22. Tasked with taking down the nation's then-No. 3 player, Alexandre Rotsaert, he did just that by a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 score. The Court-2 showdown was the final match of the day and represented Nanda's first singles appearance of the season. The next day, he dispatched of Bjorn Hoffman of UC Irvine, 6-2, 6-3, after being elevated to the top singles court for the first time since 2019. The Bruins shut out the Anteaters, 4-0.

Nanda would go on to take down Makey Rakotomalala of Arizona State, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, as UCLA came out on top of its second 4-3 result of the week March. Nanda's lone singles loss in four matches came against No. 30 Gustaf Strom of Arizona two days later. He would also be edged out in two doubles decisions, alongside partner Drew Baird.

The Pac-12 Player of the Week award marks the second of Nanda's career and 46th in UCLA men's tennis program history. Keegan Smith was previously recognized this season for Feb. 22-28.

ALSO NOMINATED: Gustaf Strom, ARIZ; Daniel Cukierman, USC; Ewen Lumsden, WASH.

PAC-12 MEN'S TENNIS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK