The weather hasn’t been cooperating with Georgia men’s tennis coach Manuel Diaz. His fourth-ranked Bulldogs (8-1 overall, 3-0 Southeastern Conference), who host Oklahoma today at 2:30 p.m. at Henry Feild Stadium, have yet to play an outdoor match due to the blustery conditions.

And with No. 2 Illinois coming to town Friday, Diaz is hoping his team’s few and brief outdoor practices this week will help with the on-court adjustment.

"It’s kind of hard to get long practices in with this kind of weather," he said. "Guys’ backs start tightening up and things like that. But we’ve got a few practices in. It’s definitely going to present a challenge playing in this kind of weather, but we need to play outside."

But other than the weather, Diaz said he can’t complain.

"The team’s looking good," he said. "We’re getting good leadership out of Steven (Baldas) and John (Roddick). Those two have only lost one singles match between them. And we won a challenging match (Saturday) against Alabama. And this Friday, we have a chance to go against a team ranked higher than us, so that gives us a little incentive."

Baldas, who along with Roddick forms the nation’s fifth-ranked doubles tandem, also said the team is headed in the right direction.

"John is looking like a million bucks at No. 1 singles," said Baldas, the nation’s fourth-ranked singles player. "Hisham (Hemeda) is looking like two million bucks at No. 3. And I believe we’re the best doubles team in the country. And hopefully, we’ll move up more in the rankings if we beat Illinois."

– Cal Powell