Michigan State Rallies To Top Men’s Tennis, 4-1, In NCAA First Round
After a rain delay of over two hours, the Tar Heels began out robust in doubles play. Carolina obtained 6-3 wins at No. 2 from Niels Ratiu and Chris Xu and No. 3 from Ian Mayew and Logan Zapp to take a 1-0 result in begin the match.
The Spartans grabbed 4 consecutive singles wins to choose up the victory and advance to Saturday’s NCAA second spherical in Columbia.
Big Ten champion MSU, ranked No. 16 on this week’s Intercollegiate Tennis Association ballot, improved to 19-8 this season. Carolina, at No. 41 for her highest ITA rank of the season, noticed her season come to an finish at 15-12.
The Tar Heels have been making their 29th NCAA Tournament look in 31 years below head coach Sam Paul and they’re now 42-32 all-time in NCAA Tournament play.
How it Happened — Doubles
• Mere minutes into doubles play, the groups cleared the courts for a climate delay as a consequence of rain.
• Tar Heels Niels Ratiu and Chris Xu grabbed the primary doubles win of the day, 6-3, on court docket two over Mitchell Sheldon and Taym Al-Azmeh.
• Ian Mayew and Logan Zapp adopted swimsuit a couple of minutes later with a 6-3 of their very own on court docket three to clinch the doubles level.
• UNC gained the doubles level for the 18thth time in 27 matches this season.
How it Happened — Singles
• The Spartans gained the primary set in 4 of six singles matches (courts one by way of 4) whereas Constantinos Djakouris (court docket 5) and Anthony Wright (six) gained first units for the Tar Heels.
• MSU finally gained singles matches on courts one by way of 4 to earn the 4-1 staff win.
• #29 Aristotelis Thanos defeated #123 Xu, 6-2, 6-1, on primary to tie the rating at 1-1. Not lengthy thereafter, #43 Ozan Baris topped Mayew, 7-5, 6-1 on court docket three to make it 2-1 MSU.
• The Spartans wrapped it up with wins by #15 Matthew Forbes over #79 Roan Jones (6-3, 6-4) and Danial Rakhmatullayev over Ratiu, 7-5, 6-2.
Quotable
“First of all, congratulations to Michigan State. They’re a very good team having won the Big Ten title, and they played well today. I’m also proud of our guys for a good season and a good effort today. We played very well in doubles but just didn’t get it done in the end. I like the way we played down the stretch this season, sticking together as a team.”
• Head coach Sam Paul
#16 Michigan State 4, #41 North Carolina 1
Doubles
1. #26 Roan Jones/Anthony Wright (UNC) led #35 Ozan Baris/Matthew Forbes (MSU) 5-4 (unfinished)
2. Chris Xu/Niels Ratiu (UNC) def. Mitchell Sheldon/Taym Al-Azmeh (MSU) 6-3
3. Ian Mayew/Logan Zapp (UNC) def. Danial Rakhmatullayev/ Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) 6-3
(order of end: 2, 3)
Singles
1. #29 Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) def. #123 Chris Xu (UNC) 6-2, 6-1
2. #15 Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. #79 Roan Jones (UNC) 6-3, 6-4
3. #43 Ozan Baris (MSU) def. Ian Mayew (UNC) 7-5, 6-1
4. Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) def. Niels Ratiu (UNC) 7-5. 6-2
5. Constantinos Djakouris (UNC) led Taym Al-Azmeh (MSU) 6-4, 1-2 (unfinished)
6. Anthony Wright (UNC) led Mitchell Sheldon (MSU) 6-4, 4-5 (unfinished)
(order of end: 1, 3, 2, 4)
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Carolina vs. Michigan St. NCAA 1st Rd,Columbia, SC
📺 https://t.co/dY3WqMoOA7 pic.twitter.com/MaG20lfsit— Carolina Men’s Tennis 🐏🎾 (@carolinatennis) May 1, 2026
Ratio/Xu 6-3 pic.twitter.com/pGKsa76io5
— Carolina Men’s Tennis 🐏🎾 (@carolinatennis) May 1, 2026
UNC 1-0 pic.twitter.com/wtuPkil6Po
— Carolina Men’s Tennis 🐏🎾 (@carolinatennis) May 1, 2026
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 to an AMAZING group of seniors…Tar Heels endlessly! 🙏👏👏👏#GoHeels #CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/f6XpvczNRq
— Carolina Men’s Tennis 🐏🎾 (@carolinatennis) May 2, 2026
