In a Bruins versus Badgers tennis showdown, Wisconsin entered the match riding a program-best 13-match win streak, looking poised to continue their run after a strong start in singles. However, UCLA showed resilience, winning the final singles courts to steal the match.
The Bruins took the early lead by securing the doubles point. On court two, UCLA’s No. 3-ranked duo of Olivia Center and Kate Fakih defeated Wisconsin’s Ekaterina Ivanova and Ellison Reynoldson 6-3. Ahmani Guichard and Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer followed up with a 6-4 win on court three over Taylor Cataldi and Tianna Rangan to clinch the point. Court one was left unfinished with UCLA’s No. 16-ranked team of Kimmi Hance and Elise Wagle trailing 4-5 to Wisconsin’s Maria Sholokhova and Ariel Johnson.
Despite the early deficit, Wisconsin responded strongly in singles. Reynoldson struck first with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Olivia Center on court six. Cataldi followed up with a solid 6-3, 6-3 win at over Hance, and Johnson added another point with a 7-6(6), 6-3 victory over Guichard.
But the Bruins weren’t done.
Wagle fought off Ivanova in a second-set tiebreak to win 6-1, 7-6(6) on court three, before Lutkemeyer stunned No. 5 Sholokhova with a clutch 7-5, 7-5 win at the top court to even the score. The decisive point came on court four, where Fakih edged Rangan in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, completing UCLA’s comeback.
The Badgers drop to 14-2 on the year but will have a chance to bounce back quickly as they take on USC in another tough road matchup Sunday at 2 p.m.
Match Summary:
#24 UCLA: 4, #19 Wisconsin: 3
Doubles:
UCLA Center/Fakih def. WIS Ivanova/Reynoldson, 6-3
UCLA Guichard/Lutkemeyer def. WIS Cataldi/Rangan, 6-4
UCLA Hance/Wagle vs. WIS Johnson/Sholokhova, 4-5, unfinished
Singles:
UCLA Lutkemeyer def. WIS Sholokhova, 7-5, 7-5
WIS Cataldi def. UCLA Hance, 6-3, 6-3
UCLA Wagle def. WIS Ivanova, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6)
UCLA Fakih def. WIS Rangan, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
WIS Johnson def. UCLA Guichard, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
WIS Reynoldson def. UCLA Center, 6-4, 6-2
What’s Ahead:
The Bruins will look to carry their momentum into Big Ten play as they host Minnesota on April 6 at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. UCLA aims to stay hot and build on its statement victory over Wisconsin.
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Featured Image Photographed by Aaron Fang/Daily Bruin.
