The UCLA men’s tennis team, ranked 22nd nationally, lost a close 4-3 match to No. 14 USC on Saturday at David X. Marks Tennis Stadium in Los Angeles. The result was decided in the final singles match on Court 6, where Niels Hoffmann secured the win for USC.
UCLA fell behind early after losing the doubles point. The Trojans took two of three doubles matches, with Andrin Casanova and Jack McCarthy defeating Spencer Johnson and Aadarsh Tripathi 6-4, while Max Exsted and Nathan Trouve beat Rudy Quan and Bengt Reinhard by the same score.
In singles play, UCLA responded strongly. Emon van Loben Sels tied the match with a straight-set victory over McCarthy on Court 3. Rudy Quan then gave UCLA a brief lead by defeating Trouve in two tight sets on Court 2.
USC regained momentum when Casanova overcame Tripathi in three sets on Court 5, followed by Exsted’s win against Andy Nguyen on Court 4. Spencer Johnson kept UCLA’s hopes alive by coming from behind to defeat Branko Djuric in three sets on Court 1.
With the overall score tied at 3-3, attention turned to Court 6. Hoffmann won the decisive match against Cassius Chinlund in three sets: 7-6(6), 1-6, 6-1.
UCLA now holds a season record of 5-3, while USC improves to 8-3.
Looking ahead, UCLA will travel south for a non-conference matchup against No. 9 San Diego on Thursday, February 26 at Skip and Cindy Hogan Tennis Center. The Bruins are also scheduled to participate in the annual Pacific Coast Doubles Championship at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.
The order of finish for doubles was courts one and three; for singles it was courts three, two, five, four, one, and six.
Singles results:
1. Spencer Johnson (UCLA) def. Branko Djuric (USC) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
2. Rudy Quan (UCLA) def. Nathan Trouve (USC) 7-5, 7-5
3. Emon van Loben Sels (UCLA) def. Jack McCarthy (USC) 6-4, 6-1
4. Max Exsted (USC) def. Andy Nguyen (UCLA) 6-3, 7-6(3)
5. Andrin Casanova (USC) def. Aadarsh Tripathi (UCLA) 1-6, 6-0, 7-5
6. Niels Hoffmann (USC) def. Cassius Chinlund (UCLA) 7-6(8),1-6,6-1
Doubles results:
1. Andrin Casanova/Jack McCarthy (USC) def. Spencer Johnson/Aadarsh Tripathi (UCLA) 6-4
2. Connor Church/Branko Djuric (USC) vs Gianluca Ballotta/Emon van Loben Sels (UCLA), unfinished at USC leading.
3. Max Exsted/Nathan Trouve (USC) def Rudy Quan/Bengt Reinhard (UCLA), 6–4
### FACTS FOR STEP 3 ###
