SAN DIEGO — The Michigan State men’s tennis duo of junior Max Sheldon and sophomore Ozan Baris made history at the ITA Fall National Championships by winning the doubles event and securing the program’s first-ever national title on Sunday. This achievement not only puts Michigan State on the national stage but also proves that they are a force to be reckoned with, according to MSU coach Harry Jadun. With this win, Sheldon and Baris cemented their place in the history books.
In the thrilling title match, Sheldon and Baris defeated the Old Dominion brothers Connor and Codie Van Schalkwyk with a score of 7-5, 6-3. Despite being down 5-4, just one game away from losing the first set, the MSU pair showed great resilience and came back to win the set. They carried this momentum into the second set, maintaining control and not allowing their opponents to win consecutive games.
Throughout the tournament, Sheldon and Baris demonstrated their resilience by winning tiebreakers in each of the prior four rounds. This further highlights their determination and skill on the court.
Jadun commended Sheldon and Baris for their performance, stating, “I’m just so proud of them for staying tough in big moments today and throughout the whole tournament. From the first match on Wednesday all the way to Sunday, they played at a really high level, and that’s what this tournament demands.”
The journey to the championship was not an easy one. In the opening round on Wednesday, Sheldon and Baris had to overcome a tough challenge from South Florida’s Alvin Tudorica and Erik Grevelius. They split the first sets but ultimately won the tiebreaker set 10-5 to advance.
In the following round, the Spartan duo faced a lengthy battle against Jeremie Casabon and Nathan Cox of Vanderbilt, but emerged victorious with a score of 6-3, 6-7, 16-14. They continued their winning streak in the quarterfinals, defeating Boston College’s JJ Bianchi and Jake Vassel 7-6, 6-3.
The semifinals on Saturday tested Sheldon and Baris once again, but they triumphed with a hard-fought tiebreaker victory in the first set against Washington’s Cesar Bouchelaghem and Dzianis Zharyn. They secured their spot in the finals with a score of 7-6, 6-3.
Before the tournament even began, Sheldon and Baris had already made history for Michigan State. They became the second MSU doubles team to qualify for the ITA Fall National Championships since Francisco Trinidad and Ken Kigongo in 1998. Their strong performances in the past, including being ranked as the No. 2 doubles team in the nation, made them a formidable force to watch.
In addition to their doubles success, Baris also made his mark in the singles draw of the ITA Fall National Championships, becoming the first player in program history to do so. He achieved Michigan State’s first-ever singles win in the tournament. Baris, ranked No. 25 in the ITA’s singles poll, had an impressive fall season with victories over top-25 opponents, including a singles title at the Battle in the Bay and a second-place finish at the ITA All-American Championships. Although he was eliminated in the second round of nationals play, his accomplishments cannot be understated.
Now that the men’s tennis fall season is over, Baris, Sheldon, and their teammates await the ITA’s post-fall update to the preseason rankings on November 15. It will be exciting to see how their performances in the ITA Fall National Championships affect their rankings and set the stage for future success.
— MSU Athletic Communications
Jessica Roberts serves up the latest in the world of tennis. With a love for the racket sport, she reports on tennis matches, player rankings, and Grand Slam events, ensuring readers stay informed about the tennis world.
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