Photo by: Your Game Face
Forbes Opens US Open Action Tuesday
8/23/2024 4:46:00 PM | Men's Tennis
First active MSU player in tournament, second Spartan ever.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State men's tennis freshman Matthew Forbes will open action in the main draw of the 2024 US Open on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow, New York, as announced by the US Open Friday.
Forbes will face Roman Safiullin in his first-round match, as the draw was announced by the U.S. Open. Forbes is the first current Spartan to qualify for the tournament, along with the second Spartan ever and the first since Mashiska Washington played in the 1999 US Open. Washington was a two-year letterwinner at MSU in 1993-94, and was MSU's first-ever ITA All-American in 1994 after qualifying for the NCAA Championships in 1994.
"It means a lot to me to play in the US Open as a Spartan and be the first current Michigan State player to play there, especially since I think I'm one of just four college players in the main draw," Forbes said. "I think it means a lot to the program and recruiting wise, there's going to be young kids that see that Spartan head logo and our coaching staff in Spartan gear and hopefully over the next few years and that will be great for our program."
The Spartan earned the wild card entry by winning the singles title at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Boys' 18-Under National Championships in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Aug. 11 at Kalamazoo College's Stowe Stadium.Â
"It's great to have Matthew playing in the US Open main draw, he's the first from our program and not a lot of college programs get to say they have a guy in the main draw of the US Open," assistant coach Kazuki Matsuno said to the media on Thursday. "It's huge for us and huge promotion for us since he'll be sporting some Sparty gear while he's there, so people will be seeing Spartan colors there, which is huge for our tennis program and for Michigan State University."
Forbes opened action at the 18U Tournament in the Round of 32 on Aug. 7, defeating Braeden Gelletich, 6-3, 6-0. He then knocked off incoming Penn freshman Sanjeev Chundu, 6-0, 6-3, in the Round of 16 before earning a three-set victory (6-2, 2-6, 6-4) over Ohio State freshman Nikita Filin in the quarterfinals.Â
A dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over TCU freshman Cooper Woestendick on Aug. 10 sent Forbes to the finals against 16-year-old Jack Kennedy. Forbes secured 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 win in four sets to take the title Sunday.Â
A TennisRecruiting.net blue-chip recruit, Forbes signed a National Letter of Intent with the Spartans in July. The Raleigh, North Carolina native has an International Tennis Federation (ITF) juniors career-high ranking of No. 34 and is ranked sixth in the class of 2024.
Forbes will be accompanied to New York by MSU men's tennis head coach Harry Jadun, Coach Matsuno, and other members of the Spartan coaching staff, along with his hitting partner, junior Ozan Baris.
Â
Forbes will face Roman Safiullin in his first-round match, as the draw was announced by the U.S. Open. Forbes is the first current Spartan to qualify for the tournament, along with the second Spartan ever and the first since Mashiska Washington played in the 1999 US Open. Washington was a two-year letterwinner at MSU in 1993-94, and was MSU's first-ever ITA All-American in 1994 after qualifying for the NCAA Championships in 1994.
"It means a lot to me to play in the US Open as a Spartan and be the first current Michigan State player to play there, especially since I think I'm one of just four college players in the main draw," Forbes said. "I think it means a lot to the program and recruiting wise, there's going to be young kids that see that Spartan head logo and our coaching staff in Spartan gear and hopefully over the next few years and that will be great for our program."
The Spartan earned the wild card entry by winning the singles title at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Boys' 18-Under National Championships in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Aug. 11 at Kalamazoo College's Stowe Stadium.Â
"It's great to have Matthew playing in the US Open main draw, he's the first from our program and not a lot of college programs get to say they have a guy in the main draw of the US Open," assistant coach Kazuki Matsuno said to the media on Thursday. "It's huge for us and huge promotion for us since he'll be sporting some Sparty gear while he's there, so people will be seeing Spartan colors there, which is huge for our tennis program and for Michigan State University."
Forbes opened action at the 18U Tournament in the Round of 32 on Aug. 7, defeating Braeden Gelletich, 6-3, 6-0. He then knocked off incoming Penn freshman Sanjeev Chundu, 6-0, 6-3, in the Round of 16 before earning a three-set victory (6-2, 2-6, 6-4) over Ohio State freshman Nikita Filin in the quarterfinals.Â
A dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over TCU freshman Cooper Woestendick on Aug. 10 sent Forbes to the finals against 16-year-old Jack Kennedy. Forbes secured 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 win in four sets to take the title Sunday.Â
A TennisRecruiting.net blue-chip recruit, Forbes signed a National Letter of Intent with the Spartans in July. The Raleigh, North Carolina native has an International Tennis Federation (ITF) juniors career-high ranking of No. 34 and is ranked sixth in the class of 2024.
Forbes will be accompanied to New York by MSU men's tennis head coach Harry Jadun, Coach Matsuno, and other members of the Spartan coaching staff, along with his hitting partner, junior Ozan Baris.
Â
Players Mentioned
A Mental Journey | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, January 23
Harry Jadun | Men's Tennis Press Conference | Jan. 14 2025
Tuesday, January 14
Ozan's Historic Run | Spartans All-Access
Wednesday, November 27
Harry Jadun | Men's Tennis Press Conference | Nov. 18 2024
Monday, November 18