Lansing Sun

Michigan State University freshman Matthew Forbes has been recognized as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week in men's tennis, marking a first for the university. The announcement came from the conference office on Wednesday.

Forbes' accolade follows his strong performance in singles matches, where he secured two victories at No. 3 singles, including a win against a ranked opponent. This achievement makes him Michigan State's inaugural recipient of this particular award, which is newly introduced by the Big Ten alongside its Player of the Week honors.

The award is part of Michigan State's fifth Big Ten weekly recognition this season, with different players being honored each time. Forbes joins fellow Spartan Danial Rakhmatullayev, who received Player of the Week accolades in fall. Senior Max Sheldon and junior Ozan Baris were also recipients earlier in the season.

Forbes' notable victory included a straight-sets win over Clemson's Wissam Abderrahman, ranked 92nd nationally. His weekend began with a challenging match against Tennessee's Alan Jesudason, which he won after three sets.

In doubles play, Forbes ended with a 1-1 record over the weekend. He faced a defeat against Clemson’s top-ranked doubles team but maintained strong overall performance.

Forbes experienced a minor change in his national ranking, dropping slightly from No. 40 to No. 43 according to ITA rankings. Despite this shift, his recent performances underscore his potential and consistency on court.

Looking ahead, Forbes and his team will travel to Boise State for their next match scheduled for Sunday, February 9th.