LOS ANGELES – The San Diego State men's tennis team played well in spots against 10th-ranked UCLA on Saturday but could not generate enough momentum before dropping a 4-1 decision in its opening match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend at Los Angeles Tennis Center.
With the setback, the Aztecs fall to 1-2 on the young season, while the Bruins remain unbeaten at 2-0.
SDSU kept the score close in doubles competition but could not gain the upper hand, falling by identical 6-4 tallies in the top two positions. Ignacio Martinez and Aaro Pollanen were victimized by Keegan Smith and Govind Nanda at No. 1, while Rafael Gonzalez Almazan and Jan Kirchhoff experienced the same fate against Drew Baird and Connor Rapp in the second spot.
Meanwhile over on the third court, Arnaud Restifo and Fabian Roensdorf were deadlocked at 6-6 against Bryce Pereira and Patrick Zahraj when their match was halted after UCLA secured the early 1-0 lead.
Later in singles, the Aztecs found themselves facing a 3-0 deficit after the first two matches. Pollanen was upended by Nanda in the second spot, 6-0, 6-3, while Martinez yielded to Connor Hance in the sixth position, 6-2, 6-3.
Stung, SDSU finally dented the team scoreboard when Kirchhoff emerged victorious over Baird on the number three court, 6-3, 6-4. However, the Aztecs could not prolong the match, as Roensdorf was dealt a 6-2, 7-5 defeat at the top of the ladder by Smith, who entered the weekend with a No. 7 singles ranking.
With Saturday's outcome no longer in question, two encounters were left unfinished. After claiming a first-set tiebreaker, 7-6(4), Restifo was tied with Zahraj 1-1 in the second set at No. 5, while Hough found himself trailing against Goldberg in the fourth position, 6-3, 5-3.
San Diego State will tackle its third ranked opponent in fourth matches this season on Sunday when it remains on the campus of UCLA to battle 24th-ranked San Diego, starting at 9:30 a.m. PT. The Toreros (1-1) suffered narrow 4-3 defeat to UCF on Saturday. A link to live scoring will be available on GoAztecs.com.
ITA Kickoff Weekend
No. 10 UCLA 4, San Diego State 1
Jan. 25, 2020
Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Tennis Club
Doubles
1. Keegan Smith/Govind Nanda (UCLA) def. Ignacio Martinez/Aaro Pollanen (SDSU), 6-4
2. Drew Baird/Connor Rapp (UCLA) def. Rafael Gonzalez Almazan/Jan Kirchhoff (SDSU), 6-4
3. Bryce Pereira/Patrick Zahraj (UCLA) vs. Arnaud Restifo/Fabian Roensdorf (SDSU), 6-6 (3-1), DNF
Order of finish: 1, 2
UCLA wins doubles point
Singles
1. #7 Keegan Smith (UCLA) def. Fabian Roensdorf (SDSU), 6-2, 7-5
2. Govind Nanda (UCLA) def. Aaro Pollanen (SDSU), 6-0, 6-3
3. Jan Kirchhoff (SDSU) def. Drew Baird (UCLA), 6-3, 6-4
4. Ben Goldberg (UCLA) vs. David Hough (SDSU), 6-3, 5-3, DNF
5. Arnaud Restifo (SDSU) vs. Patrick Zahraj (UCLA), 7-6(4), 1-1, DNF
6. Connor Hance (UCLA) def. Ignacio Martinez (SDSU), 6-2, 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 6, 3, 1*
* Match-clinching victory