Michigan State University
No. 25 Michigan
No. 27 Michigan State Men’s Tennis Defeats Michigan in Final Regular Season Match
4/19/2025 9:44:00 PM | Men's Tennis
A doubles victory and three singles wins from Sheldon, Forbes and Rakhmatullayev, secured MSU’s first tennis victory against Michigan since the 2002-03 season.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 27 Michigan State men's tennis closed out their regular season at home against No. 25 Michigan with a dramatic 4-2 victory, which was their first against their in-state rival since the 2002-03 season.
In between singles and doubles, Michigan State celebrated seniors Max Sheldon and Josh Portnoy.
The Spartans now improve to a 10-3 Big Ten Conference record and a 15-8 overall record.
Michigan slides to an 8-5 Big Ten Conference record, whilst also holding a 15-8 overall record.
With the victory today, the Green & White ended a 23-match loss streak against the Wolverines.
The match kicked off with doubles play where brothers Max and Mitchell Sheldon were quick to clinch their match for the Spartans at No. 3 doubles in a 6-2 victory against Michigan's Alex Cairo/Nicholas Striglehner.
It was a fierce competition on the two remaining courts, with the doubles pairs of Ozan Baris/Matthew Forbes at No. 1 doubles and Danial Rakhmatullayev/Vuk Radjenovic at No. 2 doubles competing to clinch the point in the Spartans' favor.
Baris/Forbes made quick work of the Wolverines' Will Cooksey/Patorn Hanchaikul, clinching the doubles point for Michigan State, 6-3.
The Wolverines did not let this get to them, quickly bouncing back at No. 4 singles where Radjenovic fell 6-2, 6-2 to Striglehner.
MSU was quick to recover, with freshman Mitchell Sheldon defeating Mert Oral at No. 5 singles in a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Following in suit was another talented freshman, Forbes, who added to the Spartans' total in a 6-4, 6-2 success against Hanchaikul.
In a final recovery attempt, Wolverine Cooksey defeated Baris at No. 1 singles in a 7-5, 7-5 triumph.
The match came down to No. 2 and No. 6 singles where senior Max Sheldon and freshman Danial Rakhmatullayev were battling to secure a Spartan victory.
Rakhmatullayev ultimately came out on top, locking down No. 6 singles in a 7-6(7-5), 6-3 victory for MSU.
With the match clinched, Max Sheldon's match at No. 2 singles went unfinished at a 6-2, 3-6, 4-1 conclusion.
The Green & White will start postseason Big Ten action as they travel to Columbus, Ohio, for the 2025 Big Ten Championships, set for Friday - Monday, April 25–28, 2025.
Tennis Match Results
Michigan vs Michigan State
4/19/2025 at East Lansing, Mich.
(MSU Indoor Tennis Center)
#27 Michigan State 4, #25 Michigan 2
Singles competition
1. Will Cooksey (UM) def. Ozan Baris (MSU-M) 7-5, 7-5
2. Max Sheldon (MSU-M) vs. Bjorn Swenson (UM) 6-2, 3-6, 4-1, unfinished
3. Matthew Forbes (MSU-M) def. Patorn Hanchaikul (UM) 6-4, 6-2
4. Nicholas Striglehner (UM) def. Vuk Radjenovic (MSU-M) 6-2, 6-2
5. Mitchell Sheldon (MSU-M) def. Mert Oral (UM) 6-4, 6-2
6. Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU-M) def. Alex Cairo (UM) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Ozan Baris/Matthew Forbes (MSU-M) def. Will Cooksey/Patorn Hanchaikul (UM) 6-3
2. Danial Rakhmatullayev/Vuk Radjenovic (MSU-M) vs. Bjorn Swenson/Mert Oral (UM) 5-5, unfinished
3. Max Sheldon/Mitchell Sheldon (MSU-M) def. Alex Cairo/Nicholas Striglehner (UM) 6-2
Match Notes:
Michigan 14-10; National ranking #25
Michigan State 14-8; National ranking #27
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,5,3,1,6)
A: 606
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
4,5,3,1,6
Players Mentioned
