Michigan State University Athletics
Sunday, March 29
East Lansing, Mich.
12 PM
Michigan State University
4
vs
2
No. 20 UCLA
Photo by: Kelly Branigan
Michigan State Men’s Tennis Wins Inaugural Match at Spartan Tennis Outdoor Courts With 4-2 Victory Over No. 20 UCLA Sunday
3/29/2026 6:23:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Spartans open outdoor action with second upset win of the weekend to run win streak to eight in a row.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State men's tennis earns its first victory in the first official match at the Spartan Tennis Outdoor Courts after claiming a 4-2 victory over the No. 20-ranked UCLA Bruins on Sunday.
Spartan men's tennis had a remarkable weekend at home, earning back-to-back wins over two Top-25-ranked teams. Using the momentum from the 4-3 victory over the No. 24-ranked USC Trojans on Friday night at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center, the Spartans captured another victory over the No. 20-ranked UCLA Bruins on Sunday afternoon at the new Spartan Tennis Outdoor Courts.
Not only does Sunday's win mark MSU's first outdoor victory of the season, but it also marks the Spartans' first win over UCLA. The Green & White are on an eight-match win streak overall, moving to 11-7 overall and standing 8-0 in B1G play. MSU dealt UCLA its first B1G loss, as the Bruins are now 6-1 in conference play and 12-4 overall, after beating Michigan, 4-2, on Friday in Ann Arbor.
After a close battle, the Spartans secured the doubles point to claim an early lead. Senior Ozan Baris and his doubles partner, sophomore Matthew Forbes, were first on the board after defeating Rudy Quan and Bengt Reinhard of UCLA, 6-2. Shortly after, redshirt-senior Aristotelis Thanos and sophomore Mitchell Sheldon defeated UCLA's Andy Nguyen and Aadarsh Tripathi 7-6 (7-4). At No. 1 doubles, Spartans junior Taym Alazmeh and sophomore Danial Rakhmatullayev put up a fight against the Bruin duo of Spencer Johnson and Emon Van Loben Sels, but went down, 6-4.
In singles action, the Spartans strengthened their lead by securing three more wins over the Bruins. Sheldon claimed the first singles crown of the day after taking down Bengt Reinhard in a swift, 6-2, 6-2 match. Following Sheldon's victory, Rakhmatullayev earned a big win over Aadarsh Tripathi in a straight set 6-4, 6-1. In the No. 1 singles slot, Thanos fought through a three-set battle, earning a huge comeback victory, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 to secure the Victory for MSU, making his second clinching win of the weekend after clinching the Spartans' win over USC on Friday night.
Forbes entered action against Emon van Loben Sels at the No. 2 doubles spot, but fell, 6-2, 6-2. Alazmeh took the court opposite Cassius Chinlund, but dropped a 6-4, 6-2 decision. Baris won his first set against Andy Nguyen 6-3, and was up 6-5 in the second before his match went unfinished.
Up next, the Spartans are headed out west to battle against the Washington Huskies on Friday, April 3, and the Oregon Ducks on Sunday, April 5.
No. 28 Michigan State vs. No. 20 UCLA
East Lansing, Mich.
March 29, 2026
MSU 4, UCLA 2
Doubles:
1. Spencer Johnson/Emon Van Loben Sels (UCLA) def. Taym Alazmeh/Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) 6-4
2. Aristotelis Thanos/Mitchell Sheldon (MSU) def. Andy Nguyen/Aadarsh Tripathi (UCLA) 7-6 (7-4)
3. Matthew Forbes/Ozan Baris (MSU) def. Rudy Quan/Bengt Reinhard (UCLA) 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles:
1. Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) def. Spencer Johnson (UCLA) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. Emon van Loben Sels (UCLA) def. Matthew Forbes (MSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Ozan Baris (MSU) vs. Andy Nguyen (UCLA) 6-3, 6-5, unfinished
4. Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) def. Aadarsh Tripathi (UCLA) 6-4, 6-1
5. Cassius Chinlund (UCLA) def. Taym Alazmeh (MSU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Mitchell Sheldon (MSU) def. Bengt Reinhard (UCLA) 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish: 6, 2, 5, 4, 1
Match Notes: Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,2,5,4,1)
Spartan men's tennis had a remarkable weekend at home, earning back-to-back wins over two Top-25-ranked teams. Using the momentum from the 4-3 victory over the No. 24-ranked USC Trojans on Friday night at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center, the Spartans captured another victory over the No. 20-ranked UCLA Bruins on Sunday afternoon at the new Spartan Tennis Outdoor Courts.
Not only does Sunday's win mark MSU's first outdoor victory of the season, but it also marks the Spartans' first win over UCLA. The Green & White are on an eight-match win streak overall, moving to 11-7 overall and standing 8-0 in B1G play. MSU dealt UCLA its first B1G loss, as the Bruins are now 6-1 in conference play and 12-4 overall, after beating Michigan, 4-2, on Friday in Ann Arbor.
After a close battle, the Spartans secured the doubles point to claim an early lead. Senior Ozan Baris and his doubles partner, sophomore Matthew Forbes, were first on the board after defeating Rudy Quan and Bengt Reinhard of UCLA, 6-2. Shortly after, redshirt-senior Aristotelis Thanos and sophomore Mitchell Sheldon defeated UCLA's Andy Nguyen and Aadarsh Tripathi 7-6 (7-4). At No. 1 doubles, Spartans junior Taym Alazmeh and sophomore Danial Rakhmatullayev put up a fight against the Bruin duo of Spencer Johnson and Emon Van Loben Sels, but went down, 6-4.
In singles action, the Spartans strengthened their lead by securing three more wins over the Bruins. Sheldon claimed the first singles crown of the day after taking down Bengt Reinhard in a swift, 6-2, 6-2 match. Following Sheldon's victory, Rakhmatullayev earned a big win over Aadarsh Tripathi in a straight set 6-4, 6-1. In the No. 1 singles slot, Thanos fought through a three-set battle, earning a huge comeback victory, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 to secure the Victory for MSU, making his second clinching win of the weekend after clinching the Spartans' win over USC on Friday night.
Forbes entered action against Emon van Loben Sels at the No. 2 doubles spot, but fell, 6-2, 6-2. Alazmeh took the court opposite Cassius Chinlund, but dropped a 6-4, 6-2 decision. Baris won his first set against Andy Nguyen 6-3, and was up 6-5 in the second before his match went unfinished.
Up next, the Spartans are headed out west to battle against the Washington Huskies on Friday, April 3, and the Oregon Ducks on Sunday, April 5.
No. 28 Michigan State vs. No. 20 UCLA
East Lansing, Mich.
March 29, 2026
MSU 4, UCLA 2
Doubles:
1. Spencer Johnson/Emon Van Loben Sels (UCLA) def. Taym Alazmeh/Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) 6-4
2. Aristotelis Thanos/Mitchell Sheldon (MSU) def. Andy Nguyen/Aadarsh Tripathi (UCLA) 7-6 (7-4)
3. Matthew Forbes/Ozan Baris (MSU) def. Rudy Quan/Bengt Reinhard (UCLA) 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles:
1. Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) def. Spencer Johnson (UCLA) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. Emon van Loben Sels (UCLA) def. Matthew Forbes (MSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Ozan Baris (MSU) vs. Andy Nguyen (UCLA) 6-3, 6-5, unfinished
4. Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) def. Aadarsh Tripathi (UCLA) 6-4, 6-1
5. Cassius Chinlund (UCLA) def. Taym Alazmeh (MSU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Mitchell Sheldon (MSU) def. Bengt Reinhard (UCLA) 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish: 6, 2, 5, 4, 1
Match Notes: Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,2,5,4,1)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1,2
#1 Singles Match
123
Spencer Johnson / 0 [UCLA]
622
166
#2 Singles Match
12
Emon Van Loben Sels / 0 [UCLA]
66
22
#3 Singles Match
123
Andy Nguyen / 0 [UCLA]
350
66UF
#4 Singles Match
12
Aadarsh Tripathi / 0 [UCLA]
41
66
#5 Singles Match
12
Cassius Chinlund / 0 [UCLA]
66
42
#6 Singles Match
12
Bengt Reinhard / 0 [UCLA]
22
66
Order of Finish:
6,2,5,4,1
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
A Mental Journey | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, January 23
Harry Jadun | Men's Tennis Press Conference | Jan. 14 2025
Tuesday, January 14
Ozan's Historic Run | Spartans All-Access
Wednesday, November 27
Harry Jadun | Men's Tennis Press Conference | Nov. 18 2024
Monday, November 18