MSU freshman Vuk Radjenovic serves the ball to his Ohio State opponent on March 30, 2025. The Spartans lost to the Buckeyes 4-3.
In a highly competitive showdown at the Michigan State University Indoor Tennis Center, MSU men’s tennis pushed No. 3 Ohio State to the limit but ultimately fell 4-3 in a nail-biting finish.
Despite securing the doubles point and strong singles performances, the Spartans were edged out in the deciding match between MSU's No. 5-ranked junior Ozan Baris and OSU’s No. 13-ranked Aidan Kim.
MSU started the match strong by winning the doubles point, a crucial early advantage against one of the nation’s top teams. The Spartans' No. 1 pairing of Baris and freshman Matthew Forbes dominated, securing a 6-2 victory over Kim and Will Jansen.
After OSU responded with a 6-4 win on court two, it all came down to the No. 3 doubles match, where redshirt sophomore Aristotelis Thanos and freshman Vuk Radjenovic delivered a dramatic 7-5 win, clinching the point for MSU.
“We just had to bring energy,” MSU men's tennis head coach Harry Jadun said. “We’ve been up and down in doubles points, but this time, the guys stayed focused and battled tough.”
The singles matches saw intense back-and-forth action, with both teams trading wins. The Spartans’ Thanos, ranked No. 22, secured a decisive 6-3, 6-2 victory over Ohio State’s No. 52-ranked Alexander Bernard, while senior Max Sheldon, ranked No. 79, continued MSU’s momentum with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Jansen.
However, the Buckeyes clawed back, taking straight-set victories on courts four and six. Radjenovic fought hard on court five, but after winning the first set, he ultimately fell 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Brandon Carpico.
With the match tied 3-3, all eyes turned to the top singles court, where MSU’s Baris faced off against Kim in a thrilling three-set battle. After dropping the first set 6-3, Baris stormed back to win the second 7-5. The final set saw both players exchanging blows before Kim prevailed 7-6, sealing the victory for Ohio State.
“Obviously, it comes down to a few moments here and there, and they got the bounces to go their way today,” Jadun said. “I’m proud of the way the guys fought. It just came down to inches.”
Despite the loss, the Spartans proved they can compete with the best, taking one of the nation’s top teams to the wire. Now ranked No. 32, MSU will look to build on this performance as they prepare for a Big Ten road trip against Northwestern next weekend.
“The guys come out and play like this, they’re going to be a problem for every team in the country,” Jadun added. “We just have to keep battling.”
There’s growing potential on the horizon for a tennis team that has faced its share of struggles this season.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
