Smith Named UTR ITA Player of the Week

TEMPE, Ariz. – Keegan Smith of the UCLA men's tennis team was named UTR ITA Division I Player of the Week for April 8-15, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced Wednesday.

The UTR ITA Player of the Week honors a collegiate tennis player whose increase in Universal Tennis Rating throughout the previous week was indicative of his/her high level of performance, including notable wins such as clinching matches and upsets.

Smith went 4-0 across his singles and doubles matches as the Bruins registered a split with in-state rivals San Diego and Stanford. He started his week with a pair of ranked victories, including a 6-3, 7-5 singles triumph over No. 30 (Oracle ITA) August Holmgren of USD on the top court. Smith and partner Bryce Pereira also clinched the doubles point with a 7-5 result versus No. 61 Holmgren and David Norfeldt. Smith went on to deliver a 6-0, 6-2 performance against Axel Geller of the Cardinal, capping a perfect individual day. Smith and Pereira earlier beat Geller and Neel Rajesh, 7-5. All four decisions came on the top court.

Smith's UTR rose from 13.75 to 13.88 with the wins.

The national award is the first for Smith and the UCLA men's tennis program. The UTR ITA National Player awards were first given out in October 2019.