Men’s Tennis Preview: No. 19 Tennessee vs. No. 16 Michigan State
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 19 Tennessee men’s tennis team is gearing up for an exciting match against No. 16 Michigan State on Friday at 5 p.m. ET, set to take place at the Goodfriend Tennis Center.
Fans can tune in to watch the action live through a stream, with live stats also available to keep up with the match.
Admission to the event is free, and parking options are provided along West Volunteer Boulevard and at the top of the CI7/NC7 garage, which is conveniently located next to Barksdale Stadium.
Recent Performance
Tennessee’s last outing came during the 2025 ITA Kickoff Weekend, where they hosted one of 14 regional events. The Vols started off strong with a 4-2 victory over Illinois but fell short in their Sunday match against No. 25 Michigan, losing 4-1.
Despite the loss, Tennessee showed competitive spirit and will look to bounce back with a strong performance against Michigan State.
Spotlight on Michigan State
Michigan State has come out of the gates strong this season, currently boasting a 4-1 record. Their early success includes a notable win over No. 7 Kentucky and a national ranking of No. 16.
Their only loss was handed to them by the reigning National Champions, No. 2 TCU, but the Spartans’ overall performance so far has been impressive.
The Michigan State squad features a combination of four ranked singles players and doubles pairs.
One standout is No. 8 Ozan Baris, who made an impressive run to the finals of the NCAA Individual Championships in November in Waco, Texas. This blend of talented athletes makes Michigan State a formidable opponent as they look to maintain their strong start to the season.
Tennessee’s Key Players
In singles, Tennessee has several ranked players to watch:
No. 18 Shunsuke Mitsui, known for his consistent play and determination.
No. 34 Alex Kotzen, a dynamic force who brings both power and precision to his matches.
No. 56 Alejandro Moreno, who has made a name for himself with his aggressive playing style and sharp court awareness.
In doubles, Tennessee’s ranked pairs are equally impressive:
No. 21 Alejandro Moreno and Alex Kotzen, a duo that combines experience and synergy on the court.
No. 59 Alan Jesudason and Shunsuke Mitsui, who bring a balanced approach to doubles play with strong teamwork and strategy.
Michigan State’s Top Players
The Spartans also have an impressive lineup in both singles and doubles. In singles, they are led by:
No. 8 Ozan Baris, who is a major threat after his stellar performance in the NCAA Individual Championships.
No. 27 Aristotelis Thanos, another standout player for Michigan State who brings solid skills to the table.
No. 40 Matthew Forbes, whose aggressive style has earned him a top ranking.
No. 83 Max Sheldon, a versatile player capable of challenging any opponent.
Michigan State’s doubles teams are also competitive:
No. 66 Danial Rakhmatullayev and Taym Alazmeh, a pair with great chemistry and court coverage.
No. 94 Aristotelis Thanos and Ozan Baris, who bring a combination of power and precision to their doubles matches.
No. 99 Matthew Forbes and Ozan Baris, a duo that’s known for their tactical play and solid fundamentals.
No. 107 Max Sheldon and Matthew Forbes, another strong doubles pair that contributes to the team’s depth.
Scheduling Update
A key update for Tennessee fans: the originally scheduled matchup with No. 2 TCU on February 2 has been canceled. The Vols will instead face TCU in Knoxville during the 2026 season, marking an exciting opportunity to face the national champions on home turf in the future.
With both teams coming into the match with high expectations, this upcoming contest between Tennessee and Michigan State promises to be an intense and thrilling encounter. Fans can look forward to seeing some of the best tennis on display, as both teams aim to continue their strong starts to the season.
