University of Michigan Men’s Tennis Faces Tough Loss to Wisconsin
On March 6, at the Varsity Tennis Center, the University of Michigan’s men’s tennis team lost 4-0 to Wisconsin in their first Big Ten match of the season. This defeat halted their three-match winning streak.
Wisconsin has been on a roll, winning eight matches straight. It was their first win against Michigan since 2009, showcasing their impressive form. The Wolverines played without their top player, Max Dahlin, which changed the lineup and forced some players to compete in tougher positions.
In doubles, things started off challenging for Michigan. The freshmen duo of Arnav Bhandari and Pierce Shaya lost 6-0 to Wisconsin’s Patrick Mezaros and Matthew Fullerton at No. 3 doubles. Senior Mert Oral and junior Alex Cairo, making his season debut, fought hard but lost 6-4 at No. 2 doubles, giving Wisconsin the early advantage.
Cairo had to retire from his singles match after the first set, which put Wisconsin ahead 2-0. Though Nicholas Steiglehner and Shaya pushed their second sets into tiebreakers at No. 2 and No. 5, they ultimately couldn’t secure a win, allowing Wisconsin to clinch the match.
Looking ahead, the Wolverines will return to the court on March 8 against Nebraska at noon.
Match Highlights
Singles Results:
- No. 1: Bjorn Swenson (U-M) vs. Michael Minasyan (Wisconsin), 7-5, 6-6 abandoned
- No. 2: Patrik Meszaros (Wisconsin) d. Nicholas Steiglehner (U-M), 7-5, 7-6 (1)
- No. 3: Edouard Aubert (Wisconsin) d. Mert Oral (U-M), 6-2, 4-6, 0-2 abandoned
- No. 4: Ferdinand Kloesters (Wisconsin) d. Alex Cairo (U-M), 6-3 retired
- No. 5: Tomas Zlatohlavek (Wisconsin) d. Pierce Shaya (U-M), 6-2, 7-6 (5)
- No. 6: Matthew Fullerton (Wisconsin) d. Arnav Bhandari (U-M), 7-6 (1), 2-6, abandoned
Doubles Results:
- No. 1: Bjorn Swenson/Nicholas Steiglehner (U-M) vs. Oliver Olsson/Tomas Zlatohlavek (Wisconsin), 5-5 abandoned
- No. 2: Michael Minasyan/Ferdinand Kloesters (Wisconsin) d. Mert Oral/Alex Cairo (U-M), 6-3
- No. 3: Patrik Meszaros/Matthew Fullerton (Wisconsin) d. Arnav Bhandari/Pierce Shaya (U-M), 6-0
This loss highlights the challenges teams face when dealing with important injuries. The Wolverines will need to regroup quickly and prepare for their next match.
For more information on college tennis and player statistics, you can visit the NCAA Men’s Tennis page.
