UCL fought a tough battle against KCL Tennis last Friday, but lost 4-1 overall.
The day started strong with Maria Ivanova and Hannah Wall’s long contest for the first set in women’s doubles, eventually losing to King’s (7-5). Despite the promises of the first set, the rest of the game went in King’s direction, as they won the second set 6-2. The unfortunate pattern repeated throughout the day.
The men’s double was an extremely close and spectacular game which was eventually won by KCL’s players. Stuart Li-Tremble and UCL Men’s Captain Addy Bradley Glinister gave their all for UCL and King’s to hold one set each following two tie breaks (6-7, 7-6). The ultimate set was also concluded with a nail-bitingly close tie break to King’s (11-9) after an unsuccessful line call from the UCL player.
UCL Varsity women’s captain Jasmine Jones brought UCL’s lone win playing women’s singles in a convincing two sets victory (6-3, 6-3). Jones’ asserted tactical dominance in the first set, imposing her opponent a baseline battle she did not escape from.
Second year Tom Skinner was defeated in yet another third set tie break heartbreak. In a fierce battle against KCL Captain Ali Hassan in men’s singles, Skinner narrowly lost 6-7 in the first. Wind turned completely in the second set, when Skinner stunned his adversary 6-1. Skinner and Hassan wrestled in the third set tie break, culminating in a close 11-9 win for King’s.
Finally, fifth year medic Monica Raviraj and third year Tomás Cores Birch finished with a tough mixed doubles match against KCL tennis president Ann Maria Muuli and Lucas Urquiza. The final score of 6-2, 6-4 cemented King’s victory in this year’s varsity tennis fight.
Despite the 4-1 loss, the Purple crowd enjoyed the exciting show and energised UC players. On each side of the court, a divided sea of purple and red buzzed, waiting for the ball’s final rebound to shriek with joy or seethe in silence.
The intensity of the atmosphere was manifest in the volume of the crowd – total silence, only interrupted by frenzied cheers after every point was called. Chants ricocheted through the crowd, flung back and forth like the ball as classics were recalled – such as “I’d rather go to SOAS than to King’s!!” – and names battled out to see who can chant their University name louder.
Despite the eventual loss, UCL played with fierce intensity against King’s. Whether in Skinner’s pep talks to his legs or Jones’ eagle eyes stalking the ball’s trajectory, team UCL pushed through a series of demanding matches with determined focus, pulling on the energy of the crowd whenever motivation started to falter.
