Men's Tennis Tops Texas Tech in Kickoff Weekend Thriller
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Drew Baird overcame a 2-5 third-set deficit to give the No. 23 UCLA men's tennis team a 4-3 win against Texas Tech Sunday in the ITA Kickoff Weekend consolation match at Mitchell Tennis Center on the campus of Texas A&M.
The Bruins (2-1) captured the doubles point and built a 3-1 lead before the Red Raiders (3-2) mounted their comeback with back-to-back singles wins to tie the score and turn all eyes toward Baird and Isaac Arevalo on the top court. In order to reach that point, UCLA also received singles victories from Giacomo Revelli and Patrick Zahraj.
Baird posted a 2-0 day, also teaming with Max Wild to knock off Piotr Pawlak and Takeyasu Sekiguchi on the third doubles court. The 6-3 decision gave the Bruins an edge they were able to capitalize on shortly thereafter on Court 1. There, Alexander Hoogmartens and Bryce Pereira collaborated on a 6-4 defeat of Arevalo and Reed Collier.
First off the singles courts was Revelli, who blew past Franco Ribero in a 6-1, 6-3 showing on Court 4 that represents his second dual-match win in three matches.
Collier cut Texas Tech's deficit in half with a 6-4, 6-2 decision over Stefan Leustian on Court 5, though Zahraj was able to answer soon thereafter. Tasked with taking down Olle Wallin on the third court, Zahraj ensured he would do just that without a needing a third frame, controlling a second-set tiebreaker to complete his 6-4, 7-6(1) victory.
The remaining three matches went to third sets, with UCLA needing to claim just one. The Red Raiders ensured the contest would go the distance, starting with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win by Ilgiz Valiev versus Hoogmartens on Court 2. Then, on Court 6, Dimitrios Azoidis of Texas Tech would overcome Karl Lee in a back-and-forth third set to win by a 7-6(5), 0-6, 6-4 margin and tie the overall score.
That shifted the focus squarely to the top court, where Arevalo looked primed to finish off Baird and add another point to the Red Raiders' tally. Baird had other thoughts, though, taking the final five games – including breaks of serve at 3-5 and 5-5.
UCLA returns to action Saturday, Feb. 5 (1 p.m. PT), when it takes on California in a road non-conference match. The Bruins then meet Stanford in non-league play 24 hours later.
Tennis Match Results
Texas Tech vs UCLA
1/30/2022 at Bryan-College Station, TX
(Mitchell Tennis Center)
#23 UCLA 4, Texas Tech 3
Singles competition
1. Drew Baird (UCLA) def. Isaac Arevalo (TTU) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
2. Ilgiz Valiev (TTU) def. #41 A. Hoogmartens (UCLA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
3. Patrick Zahraj (UCLA) def. Olle Wallin (TTU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-1)
4. Giacomo Revelli (UCLA) def. Franco Ribero (TTU) 6-1, 6-3
5. Reed Collier (TTU) def. #96 Stefan Leustian (UCLA) 6-4, 6-2
6. Dimitrios Azoidis (TTU) def. Karl Lee (UCLA) 7-6 (7-5), 0-6, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. A. Hoogmartens/Bryce Pereira (UCLA) def. Isaac Arevalo/Reed Collier (TTU) 6-4
2. Giacomo Revelli/Patrick Zahraj (UCLA) vs. Dimitrios Azoidis/Ilgiz Valiev (TTU) 4-4, unfinished
3. Drew Baird/Max Wild (UCLA) def. Piotr Pawlak/Takeyasu Sekiguchi (TTU) 6-3
Match Notes:
Texas Tech 3-2
UCLA 2-1; National ranking #23
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,5,3,2,6,1)