Saturday, 10/24/2015

MALIBU, Calif. – UCLA sophomore Martin Redlicki defeated USC’s Logan Smith to capture the singles title at the 2015 USTA/ITA Southwest Regional Championship on Monday afternoon.

“I’m really proud of the way that I mentally approached this week,” said Redlicki of his overall performance throughout the tournament.

After dropping Monday’s first set, 3-6, fourth-seeded Redlicki rallied to take the second and force the third set tiebreaker.

“It was a combination of nerves and not executing my shots as well as I should have,” said Redlicki of losing the first set to Smith.  “Tactically, I could have played a little better.  In the second set, I definitely figured out what I had to do better and how to change and adjust my game.

“In the first set, Logan was feeding off of my pace,” said Redlicki.  “In the second set, I slowed it down and mixed up the rhythm to keep him on his toes.  He started making more mistakes and I started playing better.”

The cross-town rivals went down to the wire in the final set of the championship match, but Redlicki edged Smith, 6-4, to take the title.  With the win, Redlicki is awarded direct acceptance into the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships next month in Flushing, N.Y.

This is the second-straight year that a Bruin has won the singles title at the USTA/ITA Southwest Regional Championships.  Last year, Mackenzie McDonald won the singles and doubles titles.  In the singles championship, McDonald lost the first set to USC’s Jonny Wang, but battled back to take the match in three sets.  In doubles play, McDonald partnered with then-freshman Redlicki to claim the doubles crown.

Next up, UCLA hosts the Southern California Intercollegiate Championships, Oct. 28-Nov. 1, at UCLA’s Los Angeles Tennis Center.  Following that event, the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships will take place Nov. 12-15.

USTA/ITA Southwest Regionals – Monday Results
Oct 15-19, 2015 at Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center

Singles
Final
No. 4 Redlicki (UCLA) def. Logan Smith (USC), 3-6, 6-2, 6-4