The Wisconsin men’s tennis team put on a strong performance Wednesday night at Nielsen Tennis Stadium, dismantling Illinois State 7-0 to extend their all-time dominance over the Redbirds to 24-0.
The Badgers (5-1) remained undefeated against Illinois State and showed no signs of slowing down as they locked in their third sweep of the season. With Big Ten play looming, this victory serves as another statement that Wisconsin is ready to compete against tough conference opponents.
Doubles domination sets the tone
The Badgers wasted no time asserting their dominance in doubles play. At the No. 1 spot, sophomore duo Oliver Olsson and Tomas Zlatohlavek showcased their chemistry, securing a convincing 6-3 win over Tomas Valencia and Adrian Dibildox.
Meanwhile, Michael Minasyan and Patrik Meszaros, the No. 2 pair, delivered under pressure, taking a tight 6-4 victory to clinch the doubles point. At No. 3, Matthew Fullerton and Edouard Aubert matched that energy with another 6-4 win, ensuring Wisconsin went into singles play with a 1-0 lead and all the momentum.
Singles play: a masterclass in efficiency
Wisconsin’s singles lineup left no room for doubt. The Badgers swept all six matches in straight sets. Minasyan set the tone with a near flawless 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 1 singles over Valencia, leaving his opponent with no answers. Zlatohlavek followed up with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 2, reinforcing his reputation as a top performer this season.
Meszaros continued his stellar start, overpowering Tin Ostro 6-3, 6-1 at No. 3. Fullerton had to dig a little deeper but pulled off a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 4. Aubert and Sachiv Kumar rounded out the lineup with commanding victories at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively. Kumar, in particular, impressed with a decisive 6-2, 6-2 performance, improving to 4-1 in his debut collegiate season.
Big Ten implications: The real test lies ahead
While this dominant performance against Illinois State adds another win to Wisconsin’s record, the real tests are yet to come. The Big Ten is one of the most competitive conferences in college tennis, featuring powerhouse programs like Ohio State, Michigan and Illinois. If the Badgers want to make a deep run in conference play, they will need to maintain this level of intensity against stronger opponents.
For now, though, Wisconsin can celebrate another dominant night on their home courts, one that proves they are a team to watch as the season progresses.
