The Wisconsin men’s tennis team lost to Nebraska 4-0 at Nielsen Tennis Stadium on Saturday, where they were outmatched and outmaneuvered the entire match. At this point, competing isn’t enough.
Nebraska didn’t just win, they sent a message to the Badgers. This was one the Badgers have heard before — but this time, they didn’t seem to have a response. And with just two matches left in the regular season, the noise around Wisconsin is louder than ever.
No one expected perfection. But this pattern is becoming harder to defend. Wisconsin has had flashes of promise and solid starts, but there’s not much to show for it.
Momentum? Gone before it started
Doubles once again slipped away, and with it, Wisconsin’s rhythm. It’s the same crack in the foundation that has haunted the team all year, losing the doubles point.
Nebraska didn’t need to dominate, they just needed to be sharp when it mattered.
Singles that looked better than they ended
Nebraska didn’t outplay Wisconsin on every court, though. Michael Minasyan won his first set against a ranked opponent. Patrik Meszaros took the opening. Edouard Aubert and Matthew Fullerton were in it. Sachiv Kumar forced long rallies.
But the scoreboard only cares about what’s finished, and once again, the Badgers couldn’t close the match. Nebraska swept the bottom of the lineup, and by the time Wisconsin tried to rally on the upper courts, the match had already ended.
What’s left to say?
Wisconsin didn’t play bad tennis, and they’re not a bad team. But the same storyline played out against Nebraska. Wisconsin is now 9-10 overall and 3-8 in the Big Ten conference.
The team that once looked like a “late-season sleeper” is now at risk of fading out quietly.
At this point, there are no more takeaways or promising signs. There are only results, and those aren’t coming.
Final weekend: Last call
The Badgers will host No. 32 UCLA and No. 26 USC next weekend to close the regular season. Both opponents are dangerous and will punish hesitation.
If there’s any shot at flipping this narrative, it starts now. But if the team shows up like it did Saturday? The story’s already written.
