Northwestern Men’s Tennis Secures Undefeated Weekend, Dominates Opponents
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Northwestern University’s men’s tennis team continued its impressive form, achieving an undefeated weekend with victories over Alabama, Xavier, and Chicago State, bolstering their record to 6-2 and marking their best start to a dual season since 2022.
The Wildcats kicked off the weekend with a commanding 6-1 road win against Alabama on Friday, followed by a dominant Sunday doubleheader at the Combe Tennis Center, sweeping both Xavier and Chicago State. Head Coach Arvid Swan praised the team’s performance, stating, “Alabama was a great win on the road. Beating an SEC team on the road is never easy.” He further emphasized the team’s cohesion, adding, “We played very well over there, competed great, had really good support amongst the guys, and obviously good to get two wins today.”
Wildcats Conquer Crimson Tide in Alabama
To begin the weekend, Northwestern defeated Alabama’s Crimson Tide (3-4) with a final score of 6-1. The Wildcats secured the crucial doubles point early in the match. The pairing of juniors Cyrus Mahjoob and Ethan Schiffman delivered a 6-3 victory at No. 2 doubles, while the No. 1 duo of junior Greyson Casey and sophomore Carter Pate triumphed over the No. 66-ranked doubles team of Matic Kriznik and Vit Kalina with a score of 7-5.
Senior Chad Miller, playing in the No. 5 slot, was the first Wildcat to secure a singles victory, winning 6-4, 6-0. First-year Cooper He followed suit with a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 6. The match was clinched by No. 2 Mahjoob, who defeated the No. 27-ranked singles player, Kriznik, with a score of 7-6(5), 6-2. Mahjoob credited the team’s support, saying, “I was just kind of putting my head down and working. I could really feel the support from the guys around me, which was awesome. Just kind of looking around, seeing Arvid, Chema, they trust me so much when I’m playing my game.”
Additional singles victories came from Casey (7-6(3), 6-3) at No. 3 and Schiffman (4-6, 7-5, [10-7]) at No. 4. This win marked Northwestern’s first nonconference road victory since March 5, 2023, when they swept Princeton 4-0.
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Dominant Home Sweep Completes Perfect Weekend
Returning to Evanston on Sunday, the Wildcats continued their winning streak with a 4-0 sweep of the Xavier Musketeers. A strong showing in doubles play set the tone, with Miller and Han securing a 6-1 victory at No. 3, followed by a 6-2 triumph from Casey and Pate at No. 1, marking their second doubles win of the weekend.
“I think we got some really good pairings right now, and we’re playing with a ton of energy,” Swan commented. “I think we’re holding serve at a high rate. Guys have good chemistry between them.” Pate quickly extended Northwestern’s lead with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles. Miller continued his dominant form, securing a 6-3, 6-0 victory at No. 5, and Schiffman clinched the match with a 7-6(2), 6-4 win at No. 4.
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Later that day, the Wildcats faced the Chicago State Cougars, achieving their first 7-0 result of the season. Mahjoob and Schiffman secured a 6-1 victory at No. 1 doubles, while Pate and junior Owen Megargee mirrored the scoreline at No. 3, ensuring the doubles point for Northwestern.
Playing at the highest singles position of his career, Han delivered a commanding performance, winning 6-0, 6-0. Swan praised Han’s potential, stating, “He’s a really good player. He was a blue-chip recruit, so we knew he would step in and win for us right away.” Sophomore Dylan Charla, making his spring singles debut at No. 6, also secured a decisive win with a score of 6-1, 6-1. Miller clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph at No. 4. Schiffman (6-0, 6-2), Pate (6-3, 6-3), and Mahjoob (6-4, 6-4) rounded out the weekend with additional singles victories.
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With a 6-2 record, Northwestern’s start to the dual season is its best since 2022. Currently on a six-match win streak – their longest since 2023 – Swan is urging his players to maintain their focus. “Just got to keep improving. I think we’ve made a lot of progress, but there’s a lot more to go,” he said.
Northwestern will continue its season next weekend with a road match against Memphis on Sunday, February 8, with first serve scheduled for 11 a.m. CT.
