Among the positive surprises that have surrounded the UCLA men’s tennis team this season has been the play of sophomore Mathieu Dehaine.
Dehaine, who has been competing out of the No. 3 singles position, has won all of his singles matches in straight sets.
“The season is going very well so far,” Dehaine said. “Although the team is young, there is a fantastic atmosphere.”
It might come as a surprise to see a second-year student playing in the top three, but UCLA coach Billy Martin believes Dehaine plays a crucial role on the team.
“I knew he would be very important to the team from the beginning,” Martin said.
“He is able to really open the court, with knockout back and right hands from the back line.”
Dehaine’s game has improved since coming to UCLA last year.
His serve is stronger, and by concentrating more on his doubles game, he has been able to work on a weaker game at the net.
“We have been working with Mathieu on focus and intensity,” Martin said.
“There is room for improvement, but he needs to show more aggressiveness on the court.”
When the name Dehaine is mentioned, that of sophomore Jeremy Drean usually follows, as the two French players definitely did not meet walking around campus.
“Mathieu and Jeremy came as a tandem,” Martin said.
“I had followed their junior record and heard about them from friends in France,” he said.
In their final year of studying at INSEP (the best-known French high school sports academy), Dehaine and Drean contacted tennis coaches around the U.S., in hopes of a chance to compete in the American collegiate system.
“Our last choice (was) between Cal or UCLA,” Dehaine said. “And the facilities here definitely convinced us.”
Countrymen Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils are only a year older than Dehaine, yet both are competing (and shining) in Grand Slams and Davis Cup meets.
Had Dehaine completed his last year at INSEP, he would likely be seeing his name on the French Open scoreboard as well.
“I could have stayed another year, but I got my high school diploma and thought it was time to go,” Dehaine said.
“I wanted to further my education while playing tennis competitively, something that is impossible to do in France,” he added.
Although Dehaine admits to missing home and its familiar surroundings once in a while, he says that the transition to Californian life has gone very smoothly, and he is enjoying his experience immensely.
“It was my decision to come here, and I do not regret it in the slightest,” Dehaine said.