The Wisconsin men’s tennis team made their presence felt, delivering a decisive 5-2 victory over Marquette to secure their first road win of the season on February 27th.
After a tough loss to Notre Dame last weekend, the Badgers bounced back and sent a powerful message to their competition.
Doubles action set the tone early as Wisconsin took charge with aggressive net play and precise shot-making. The sophomore duo Oliver Olsson and Tomas Zlatohlavek wasted no time, dispatching their opponents 6-2. Meanwhile, Matthew Fullerton and Collin Beduhn followed with a commanding 6-3 win at No. 3, securing the all-important doubles point.
With momentum on their side, the Badgers carried their dominance into singles play. Patrik Meszaros continued his standout freshman campaign with a 6-4, 6-1 victory, dismantling Marquette’s Kristian Blagoev. At the top of the lineup, Michael Minasyan showcased his power, securing a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 1.
The most thrilling moment came from Matthew Fullerton, who got his way back in a grueling three-setter to triumph 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. But Collin Beduhn stole the show in his singles debut, delivering a crushing 6-3, 6-2 victory to seal the deal for Wisconsin.
While Marquette managed to scrape together two wins, including a hard-fought battle at No. 2 where Zlatohlavek fell in three sets, the Golden Eagles were simply outmatched.
With the win, Wisconsin improves to 6-2 on the season and extends their dominant record against Marquette to 20-1 when playing in Milwaukee.
Big Ten implications
This victory not only solidifies Wisconsin’s strong start but also serves as a crucial confidence booster ahead of their Big Ten opener. The Badgers have demonstrated depth and resilience in non-conference play, but the true test begins now.
With Northwestern up next on March 7, Wisconsin will need to elevate their game against tougher competition. The Wildcats, known for their aggressive baseline play and depth throughout the lineup, will demand the Badgers’ best performance yet.
Key players like Minasyan and Meszaros will need to maintain their dominance, while the doubles teams must sharpen their execution to secure critical early leads.
If Wisconsin can carry this momentum into conference play, they have a legitimate chance to shake up the Big Ten standings and establish themselves as a serious contender. The road to the conference tournament starts now, and the Badgers are ready for the challenge.
