The UCLA women’s tennis team, ranked fifth nationally, defeated No. 8 USC with a score of 6-1 at the Los Angeles Tennis Center in their final non-conference match. UCLA secured the victory by clinching four points before all matches were completed.
UCLA improved its record to 6-2 and extended its winning streak to four matches. The Bruins won the doubles point early in the competition and maintained control throughout. Olivia Center and Mayu Crossley each contributed two wins for UCLA, while Bianca Fernandez and Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer earned victories over ranked singles opponents from USC. USC’s only point came from Eugenia Zozaya.
In doubles play, freshmen Mayu Crossley and Kayla Chung defeated Emma Charney and Immi Haddad on court three with a 6-2 win. On court one, Olivia Center and Kate Fakih, ranked No. 62 in doubles, secured the deciding point by beating Lily Fairclough and Jana Hossam 6-3. This marked the second time this season that Center/Fakih have clinched a doubles point for UCLA.
In singles competition, four Bruins took first sets, with three matches ending in straight sets for UCLA. No. 49 Crossley defeated Haddad 6-2, 6-4 to extend her personal winning streak to five matches. Fernandez recorded her second consecutive win over a ranked opponent by beating No. 39 Charney 6-4, 6-3 on court four.
Lutkemeyer achieved her best win of the year against a ranked player by defeating No. 32 Hossam in straight sets (6-3, 7-6(4)) on court one. Lutkemeyer remains undefeated against ranked players this season with a record of 4-0 and has now accumulated twenty career wins over ranked singles opponents.
After the match was decided, Zozaya put USC on the board by defeating Fakih (No.122) with scores of 6-4, 7-5 on court three. The remaining matches saw Ahmani Guichard overcome Krisha Mahendran in three sets (6-3, 1-6, 6-1), while Center won against Dani Borruel after dropping the first set but coming back to win (4-6, 6-3, [10-7]).
UCLA will begin Big Ten Conference play on Friday, March 6 at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison against Wisconsin at 3 p.m., followed by a match at Minnesota two days later.
Match results:
Singles:
1. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) def. #32 Jana Hossam (USC) – 6-3, 7-6(4)
2. #49 Mayu Crossley (UCLA) def. Immi Haddad (USC) – 6-2, 6-4
3. #89 Eugenia Zozaya (USC) def. #122 Kate Fakih (UCLA) – 6-4, 7-5
4. Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) def. #39 Emma Charney (USC) – 6-4, 6-3
5. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) def Krisha Mahendran (USC) – 6-3,1–6 , 6–1
6 . Olivia Center(UCLA )def.Dani Borruel(USC )– 4–6 , 63 , [10–7]
Doubles:
1 . #62 Olivia Center/Kate Fakih(UCLA )def.Lily Fairclough/Jana Hossam(USC )– 63
2 . Ahmani Guichard/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer(UCLA )vs.Dani Borruel/Eugenia Zozaya(USC ), unfinished
3 . Kayla Chung/Mayu Crossley(UCLA )def.Emma Charney/Immi Haddad(USC )– 62
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