By
Caitlin Dahill
Arizona Daily Wildcat
The Arizona men's tennis team begins the spring season this weekend with three days of tough competition at the WingspanBank.Com World Tennis Regionals, held at the Robson Tennis Center.
"These matches will give Arizona a good chance to get off to a good start," said UA freshman Carl Hagman.
The Wildcats begins this weekend's triple-header at home against St. Mary's Gael. Arizona will compete to represent their region against 15 others in the National Championships.
"We have been practicing and conditioning hard," junior Bruno Aropovic said. "The team looks forward to today's exhibition as another preparation match."
Junior Steven Capriati believes the exhibition is a chance for the players to begin getting prepared mentally and physically for the other two teams in the tournament.
"Both are tough matches, but we have been really, really confident," Aropovic said.
Arizona will face New Mexico State Saturday in their first official match of the spring. Although the Aggies are favored to defeat the Wildcats, Aropovic is confident his team will be triumphant.
"They may be ranked higher but I think we are definitely a better team and can win this," Aropovic said.
Capriati agrees.
"Rankings mean nothing until the end of the year," Capriati said. "Our team is much stronger than a 60th ranked team and we have a good chance to beat a ranked team."
The Wildcats close the weekend against Santa Clara, who opens their season on Saturday against Arizona State.
Capriati said the Wildcats are confident they will prevail victorious in their matches.
