Baris Falls short of Championship Title at NCAA Men’s Tennis Tournament
FLUSHING, NY - michigan State’s Ozan Baris saw his impressive run at the NCAA Men’s Tennis Tournament conclude in the Elite Eight on Thursday, falling too Columbia’s Michael Zheng 6-4, 3-6, 2-6. The defeat came in a rematch of last year’s final, also won by zheng.
Baris’ strong performance throughout the tournament earned him All-American honors for the fourth time in his career adn marked his third consecutive quarterfinal appearance. The Spartan senior secured three straight-set victories en route to the Elite Eight, solidifying his place as one of the most accomplished players in program history.
Sophomore Matthew Forbes also represented the Spartans, delivering a standout performance in his first NCAA Tournament appearance. Forbes advanced to the round of 16, notching multiple ranked wins and earning All-American honors for the first time, before being defeated by Michigan‘s Max Dahlin 5-7, 6-1, 6-7 (3-7).
Tournament Results:
Round of 64:
* Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. Pablo Martinez Gomez (Vanderbilt) 3-6, 7-6, 6-4
* Ozan Baris (MSU) def. Jangjun Kim (Virginia) 6-2, 7-6
Round of 32:
* Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. Cosme Rolland De Ravel (TCU) 6-1, 6-4
* Ozan Baris (MSU) def.Roan Jones (North Carolina) 6-2,7-5
Round of 16:
* Max Dahlin (Michigan) def. Matthew Forbes (MSU) 5-7, 6-1, 6-7 (3-7)
* Ozan Baris (MSU) def. Ilia Snitari (UNLV) 6-4, 7-6
Elite Eight:
* Michael Zheng (Columbia) def. ozan Baris (MSU) 6-4, 3-6, 2-6
The Spartans will return to action for team dual play in the spring season in mid-January.
