UEL’s Men’s 1st Tennis Team face their longest away trip of the season this Wednesday (17th November) as they take on the University of Stirling.
East London will make the 427-mile journey north still in search of their first win of the season, after starting the campaign with five straight losses in the BUCS Premier Division.
A ‘Stirling’ Performance
Stirling won the first encounter between the two sides with a 6-0 victory when the teams met at the BUCS Super Weekend at the National Tennis Centre.
The team from the north have been the standout team so far and sit in first place in the highest league in university tennis. They are unbeaten in their first five matches.
“Stirling were very good, they just put the ball where they wanted to, they made very few mistakes which made it hard for us,” said team captain, Paolo Col, after the loss.
"Please tell me you got that?!"
Unreal shot around the net during from Stirling during doubles match against East London at the BUCS Super Weekend.
🎾UEL vs Stirling
📆31st October 2021
📍National Tennis Centre pic.twitter.com/ZPSsgdGLlU— Toby Foot (@oscartfoot) November 15, 2021
East London will be hoping for a better result this time around and they will look to field a stronger side.
In the previous matchup last month, the team was weakened with two of the usual first team players, Arum Akom and Steven Zahui, both out due to illness.
“We Are Still Here To Compete”
Despite the struggles the team have faced on their return to the Premier Division this season, the East Londoners are still optimistic they can turn their results around.
“The matches are so much closer than what the scores suggest,” Emmanuel Oni said after defeat in his singles match against Stirling earlier in the season. “I wish I could keep count of the number of games that have been at 40-30 or deuce.”
Big forehand winner on the run from East London's Emmanuel Oni at the BUCS Super Weekend
🎾UEL vs Stirling
📆31st October 2021
📍National Tennis Centre pic.twitter.com/w1WjAdt1in— Toby Foot (@oscartfoot) November 15, 2021
He continued, “The score is the score but it’s not necessarily an accurate reflection on how the game went. The matches don’t look like a 6-1 6-1 loss but unfortunately that’s how they have been turning out.”
Oni, like all of the team, have made a big step up having been playing with the Men’s 2nd Team prior to the pandemic, on this he said, “The standard is definitely a step up for us. We have all been acclimatising to this new level. It’s just a matter of getting over the line on the big points.”
Can They Save Their Season?
East London are currently sat 6 points adrift of 5th placed Durham in the league standings and will need a drastic turn around in form if they are to avoid the relegation playoffs this season.
