Baris Falls Short in Elite Eight, Forbes Earns All-American Honors at NCAA championships
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michigan State men’s tennis concluded its run at the NCAA Individual Championships with strong performances from both senior Ozan Baris and sophomore Matthew Forbes. Baris reached the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year, while Forbes secured his first All-American honors in a standout tournament showing.
Baris’ Championship Run Ends in Rematch
East Lansing,Mich. — Ozan Baris’ extraordinary tournament came to an end in the Elite Eight, falling to Columbia’s Michael Zheng in a hard-fought match on Friday. The contest was a rematch of last year’s final, which Zheng also won. Despite a strong start,taking the first set 6-4,Baris ultimately succumbed to Zheng’s pressure,losing 6-4,3-6,2-6.
“It was a high-level battle,†a tournament observer noted. “Both players demonstrated incredible skill and determination.â€
Baris’ path to the quarterfinals included three consecutive straight-set victories, showcasing his dominance against top-ranked opponents. His quarterfinal appearance marks another milestone for one of the most accomplished players in Michigan state program history. He also earned All-American honors for the fourth time in his career.
Forbes Makes Impactful NCAA Tournament Debut
Sophomore Matthew Forbes also delivered a memorable performance,advancing to the round of 16 in his first NCAA Tournament appearance. Forbes notched multiple wins against ranked opponents along the way, earning his first All-american honors.
His tournament began with a thrilling victory over Vanderbilt’s Pablo Martinez gomez, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.He followed that up with a decisive win against Cosme Rolland De Ravel of TCU, 6-1, 6-4. Forbes’ run was ultimately halted by Max dahlin of Michigan in a closely contested match, 5-7, 6-1, 6-7 (3-7).
Tournament Results Breakdown
here’s a detailed look at the Spartans’ results throughout the tournament:
Round of 64:
- Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. Pablo Martinez Gomez (Vanderbilt) 3-6, 7-6, 6-4
- Ozan Baris (MSU) def. Jangjun Kim (Virginia) 6-2, 7-6
round of 32:
- Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. Cosme Rolland De Ravel (TCU) 6-1, 6-4
- ozan Baris (MSU) def. Roan Jones (North Carolina) 6-2, 7-5
Round of 16:
- Max Dahlin (Michigan) def. Matthew Forbes (MSU) 5-7, 6-1, 6-7 (3-7)
- Ozan Baris (MSU) def. Ilia Snitari (UNLV) 6-4, 7-6
Elite Eight:
- michael Zheng (Columbia) def. Ozan Baris (MSU) 6-4, 3-6, 2-6
Looking Ahead
Following the individual championships, the Spartans are preparing for team dual play in the spring season, scheduled to begin in mid-January. The team will look to build on the success of Baris and Forbes and continue to elevate the program’s standing in collegiate tennis.
