LEXINGTON, Ky. – The UCLA men’s tennis team had its season stopped by Northwestern in the first round of the NCAA Championships Friday, falling 4-2 in a back-and-forth contest at the University of Kentucky’s Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex.
Giacomo Revelli picked up his second win against a nationally-ranked player in as many matches for the Bruins (12-11). Gianluca Ballotta accounted for UCLA’s second point, momentarily giving his team the lead. The Wildcats (21-9) earned the doubles point and were carried through singles play by Simen Bratholm, Steven Forman and clincher Gleb Blekher. Northwestern moves on to face host and fourth-seeded Kentucky Saturday.
Blekher and Ivan Yatsuk set the tone in doubles play, topping Ballotta and Patrick Zahraj by a 6-2 score. Then, in the top-court matchup, No. 54 Bratholm and Forman took down No. 56 Revelli and Timothy Li in another 6-2 decision to seal the initial point.
The Bruins seized four singles first sets to swing momentum back in their direction. Revelli quickly capitalized on Court 2, putting on a 6-3, 6-3 performance versus No. 66 Yatsuk. Revelli’s victory came on the heels of his 6-3, 6-4 result over Geronimo Espin Busleiman of Utah in the Pac-12 Championships quarterfinal round.
Ballotta continued his winning ways on Court 5, besting Presley Thieneman 6-3, 6-1 to give UCLA a 2-1 lead. Ballotta finished the year on top of three straight decisions and was leading in four unfinished contests during that stretch.
Bratholm answered for the Wildcats on Court 3, defeating Aadarsh Tripathi by a 6-4, 6-2 margin to tie the score. No. 29 Forman then followed with a 6-4, 6-3 showing opposite Zahraj on Court 1.
Blekher took the final five games on Court 6 to overcome Li for a 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 result. The match on Court 4, which Azuma Visaya of the Bruins led 7-6(4), 3-1, was left unifinished.
Tennis Match Results
UCLA vs Northwestern
5/5/2023 at Lexington, KY
(Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex)
#28 Northwestern 4, #35 UCLA 2
Singles competition
1. #29 Steven Forman (NU) def. Patrick Zahraj (UCLA) 6-4, 6-3
2. Giacomo Revelli (UCLA) def. #66 Ivan Yatsuk (NU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Simen Bratholm (NU) def. Aadarsh Tripathi (UCLA) 6-4, 6-2
4. Trice Pickens (NU) vs. Azuma Visaya (UCLA) 6-7 (4-7), 1-3, unfinished
5. Gianluca…
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