Lansing Sun

Michigan State University's men's tennis team faced a challenging match against Texas Christian University (TCU) during the ITA Kickoff Weekend. The Spartans, ranked No. 17, were defeated by the No. 2 ranked TCU with a score of 4-1 at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

After an initial victory over Liberty on Saturday, MSU prepared to compete against reigning national champions TCU. The doubles matches saw Ozan Baris and Aristotelis Thanos, Max Sheldon and Matthew Forbes, and Taym Alazmeh and Danial Rakhmatullayev representing MSU.

Sheldon and Forbes were first on court but lost 6-2 to Jack Pinnington and Cooper Woestendick from TCU. However, Alazmeh and Rakhmatullayev secured a point for MSU by defeating Albert Pedrico Kravtsov and Duncan Chan from TCU with a score of 7-6 (7-4).

The deciding doubles match featured Baris and Thanos against Pedro Vives and Lui Maxted from TCU. The Spartan duo fought hard but ultimately fell 6-7 (4-7). Losing the doubles point placed additional pressure on the Spartans going into singles play.

In singles action, Sheldon was unable to overcome Lui Maxted of TCU, losing 2-6, 6-7 (3-7). On another court, Baris faced off against Jack Pinnington but was defeated 6-4, 7-5.

Forbes managed to earn a point for MSU by taking his match against Duncan Chan to three sets. Meanwhile, Thanos battled Pedro Vives in a close match that ended with Thanos falling in three sets: 4-6, 6-4, 3-6.

With these results favoring TCU, remaining matches went unfinished as they secured their fifth consecutive win this season while MSU experienced its first loss.

The Michigan State team will next travel to Tennessee on January 31 before heading to Clemson on February 2.