Lansing Sun

MSU sophomore Ozan Baris' impressive run in the NCAA Singles Championships concluded in the national semifinal against Alabama's Filip Planinsek. The match ended with a score of 5-7, 7-5, 6-7 (6-8) on Friday.

Baris, from Okemos, Michigan, fought back from a significant deficit in the second set. He was down 3-5 and faced match point at 4-5 but managed to win the set and force a third. In the super tiebreaker of the third set, as the No. 8 seed in the 64-player tournament, he came within three match points of reaching the national title match.

As the first Spartan to reach the NCAA Singles Championships semifinals as a true sophomore, Baris also became Michigan State University's first two-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American. The Big Ten Player of the Year finished his season with a singles record of 32-7, ending an eight-match winning streak that began on March 10. Before reaching the semifinal, Baris had dominated his opponents by winning eight out of nine sets.

Planinsek, ranked ITA No. 29 before postseason play, will compete against Columbia's Michael Zheng for the National Championship on Saturday.

In their semifinal clash, neither player broke serve in the initial ten games of the first set until Planinsek secured victory by taking its last two games. The second set mirrored this pattern until Planinsek gained an advantage with a break and hold to lead 5-3. Facing elimination at match point while trailing four games to five at deuce, Baris broke Planinsek’s serve for his first time that day and proceeded to win consecutive games to claim the second set.

The third set remained tightly contested as each player held serve through twelve games leading to a super tiebreaker at six-all. Baris initially led by double break at 6-3 but Planinsek rallied by winning five consecutive points securing his place in finals with scores of 5-7, 7-5, and ultimately triumphing via tiebreaker at seven-six (8).

Head Coach Harry Jadun commented: "Obviously the result isn't what we wanted or what Ozan wanted, but just what a warrior. What a battle. Great match by Filip from Alabama." He added praise for Baris stating: "This whole tournament and this whole year was a coming-out party for Ozan... While this will sting... he's taken us to new heights."

Results:

Filip Planinsek (Alabama) defeated #8 Ozan Baris (Michigan State), final score being recorded as follows: sets one-five-seven; sets two-five-seven; culminating tie-breaker resolved favorably towards Planinsek thereby advancing him further within competition structure itself.