After two tough losses on the road last weekend, the Stanford men’s tennis team kicks off its Pac-10 schedule at home today against No. 9 UCLA at the Taube Family Tennis Center. The team will also face No. 6 USC tomorrow in another crucial conference match.

Stanford (0-2, 0-0 Pac-10) looks to get its first victory of the year after tough losses to No. 23 and No. 2 Georgia last weekend.

“Anytime USC, UCLA and Stanford get together, it’s a great weekend of tennis,” said head coach John Whitlinger. “Our guys are looking forward to it, [USC and UCLA] are looking forward to it. This is one of the best weekends of tennis of the year.”

A particular area in which Stanford struggled last weekend was doubles play: the team lost five of six doubles matches. The all-important doubles point will still be crucial this weekend, as well as the energy and momentum the point carries into singles play.

“We have good doubles players, it’s just a matter of finding the right combinations,” Whitlinger said. “We may look at different possibilities [this weekend].”

UCLA (1-0, 0-0 Pac-10) is fresh off a victory over No. 16 Pepperdine on Tuesday in its first dual match of the season. The Bruins lost the doubles point but ended up taking five of six singles matches for the victory. They feature two nationally ranked players — No. 32 Mathieu Dehaine and No. 38 Haythem Abid — who figure to give the Cardinal a challenge. Just like Stanford, the Bruins’ lineup features two freshmen and a transfer, so they are a different team from those of years past. Nonetheless, they are still one of the best in the nation.

“UCLA is a good team,” Whitlinger said. “They are tough to beat anywhere.”

USC is very solid and could easily be ranked in the top five. Robert Farah is the No. 9 ranked singles player in the nation, followed by Gary Sacks at No. 43. In doubles, Farah and Kaes Van’t Hof are the No. 2 ranked duo in the nation. The Trojans also have great depth at the lower singles spots.

“USC is [a] very strong team,” Whitinger said. “They are every bit as good as Georgia.”

The Trojans — who play Cal today before facing Stanford tomorrow — are 3-0 this season. It will be interesting to see how the two teams match up in singles play.

“Our strength is at the top, and their strength is at the bottom,” said sophomore Richard Wire. “[They are] a good team for us to play because of the way they battle.”

“No matter who you are playing, if you can keep the match tight and hang in there, then you have a chance,” Muller said.

“When you lose, it makes winning that much better,” he added, referring to the team’s opening weekend losses.

Today is the first match the Cardinal has played at home since last spring. The team is looking forward to playing quality opponents to open its home schedule, hoping to use the home court to its advantage.

“[The matches] will come down to a few tight points,” Wire said. “We need to use the venue to our advantage.”

The weekend’s slate of matches will also be known as the Cashin Company presents: Stanford Challenge. Play begins today at 1:30 p.m; tomorrow’s action begins at 1 p.m.