After falling behind early in their doubles matches, the Wisconsin Badgers men’s tennis team (8-6, 2-4) responded with a focused, resilient singles effort that earned a 4-3 win over Penn State (11-7, 0-5) on the road [Mar 23]. The match wasn’t perfect, but it was exactly the kind of win they needed.
Penn State took the doubles point with wins at No. 3 and No. 1. Wisconsin had its chances, especially in the top match that went to a tiebreak, but they failed to close. It was a familiar situation for the Badgers: behind early, momentum lost. But this time, they didn’t let it spiral.
Singles shift the momentum
Freshman Edouard Aubert continues to be a difference maker. Making the move to No. 4, he looked calm and in control, taking care of business in straight sets to put Wisconsin on the board. Then, Patrik Meszaros brought his usual composure to No. 2 singles and delivered another straight sets win to give the Badgers a 2-1 lead.
But the match tightened quickly. Penn State struck back with wins at the top two singles spots — both matches where Wisconsin struggled to find answers. The Badgers were suddenly falling behind 3-2, and their margin for error was gone.
Wisconsin closes like a team that’s learning
Instead of letting it slip away like they had in earlier conference matches, Wisconsin stepped up. Matthew Fullerton stayed focused and smart, keeping rallies simple and closing out in straight sets to tie the match.
That left it to freshman Sachiv Kumar. After dominating the first set 6-0, Kumar lost his grip in the second. But in the third set, with the match on the line, he found his focus again and finished the job with a 6-2 final set.
That kind of bounce-back under pressure says a lot, not just about Kumar, but about where this team is heading.
Big Ten implications
Wisconsin improves to 2-4 in Big Ten play and 8-6 overall, but the score isn’t the full story. This matchup proved to be a test of confidence and composure, and the Badgers passed. After recent close losses, especially the collapse against Michigan, this match was about more than just a win. It was about proving they could finish.
The win over Penn State also gave head coach Danny Westerman his 101st career win with Wisconsin, and it’s one he will remember — not for the milestone, but for the way his team responded when it mattered most.
Next up, the Badgers return home for a critical weekend against No. 57 Indiana and No. 47 Purdue. Both matches carry weight. If Wisconsin wants to stay in the conversation for a late-season push, it’ll need to back this win up with more. Friday’s match against Indiana begins at 4 p.m. and will be part of a joint match day with the Wisconsin women’s team.
If Wisconsin can play with this level of focus, they won’t just stay in the fight — they’ll start to control it.
