For UCLA’s Riza Zalameda, facing USC today at the Los
Angeles Tennis Center will mean more than any other match this
season, and not just because of the crosstown rivalry.
To Zalameda, today’s match means that she will once again
be pitted against her longtime adversary and fellow freshman phenom
Lindsey Nelson when the two square off in the No. 2 singles
match.
“Lindsey is my big rival,” Zalameda said.
“We’ve had some great battles playing in the juniors in
big championship matches, so I’m definitely looking forward
to it. It’s like the classic Martina Navrátilová
versus Chris Evert type of match because we have such contrasting
styles.”
The two know each other well, having faced off many times
throughout their junior careers, most notably at the California
Interscholastic Federation state title match last year. Using her
smooth net game and deft footwork, the 5-foot-4 Zalameda overcame
the 6-foot Nelson’s power and won that match 7-5, 6-3.
Currently, Zalameda is ranked No. 15 in the nation while Nelson
checks in at No. 17.
“It’s going to be intense,” coach Stella
Sampras Webster said of the match between the two precocious
freshmen. “It’ll come down to just a few points.
Lindsey is a strong player, and if she’s on, she’s
going to be tough, but Riza has a great game to counteract her
power.”
And while the next chapter in the Zalameda-Nelson saga should be
intriguing, the rivalry between the two universities is not a bad
one either. The No. 12 Trojans (6-1) hold a 38-33 all-time
advantage over the No. 11 Bruins (6-3). The two teams faced off
three times last year, with UCLA losing both regular season matches
before finally triumphing 4-2 in the NCAA Tournament round of 16.
The fact that this year’s teams are so evenly matched only
adds fuel to the rivalry.
“You get a little more nervous and more people come to
watch,” senior Sarah Gregg said. “There’s a bit
more pride involved and the fact that we are so closely ranked
makes it even more important that we beat them. I feel like we have
a really good chance of winning as long as everyone stays
focused.”
With the teams evenly matched in singles talent and in the
national rankings, the match may very well hinge on the doubles
contribution, which has been a strong point of late for the Bruins.
Last weekend in the Bay Area, UCLA took the doubles point from No.
1 Stanford and No. 15 Cal.
“The doubles point will be really important,”
Sampras Webster said. “The team that wins the doubles point
will feel less pressure. Ultimately, I think it will come down to
which team is playing with more confidence because there will be
some tight matches.”
“It’s a great rivalry and neither team wants to
lose,” Sampras Webster said. “It gives us a little
personal motivation to beat them.”