Sunday, January 18
Lexington, Ky.
1 PM
Michigan State University
2
at
5
Kentucky
No. 20 Spartan Men’s Tennis Drops Spring Season Opener at Kentucky Sunday
1/18/2026 8:16:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MSU falls in hard-fought battle on the road.
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Michigan State men's tennis team opened its spring season by falling in a hard-fought 5–2 road loss at Kentucky on Sunday at UK's Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex.
The Spartans' line-up included seniors Ozan Baris and David Saye, juniors Taym Alazmeh and Danial Rakhmatullayev, and sophomores Matthew Forbes and Mitchell Sheldon in their spring season opener.
In doubles, the Spartans took an early lead over the Wildcats. No. 14-ranked duo of Alazmeh and Rakhmatullayev defeated No. 69 Jack Loutit and Eli Stephenson, 7-6 (7-5), finishing third to seal the doubles point for the Spartans.
Baris and Forbes teamed up to defeat Nicolas Arseneault and Jaden Weekes, 7-5 to finish first. No. 76-ranked Saye and Sheldon fought hard against Martin Breysauch and Charlelie Cosnet, but came up short by a 6-4 score.
After the Spartans secured the doubles point, the match headed to singles action, where No. 3 Forbes pulled off a straight-set victory over Antoine Ghibaudo, 6-4, 6-4. The Spartan sophomore started his spring campaign strong, going undefeated in doubles and singles action.
Kentucky took the singles point with five wins to secure the match. No. 123-ranked Nicolas Arseneault defeated No. 14 Baris in three sets 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. In a straight-set match, No. 19 Ei Stephenson of UK defeated MSU's Alazmeh, 6-3, 6-3. No. 26 Jack Loutit defeated No. 103 David Saye in a thrilling three-set match, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. Jaden Weekes went on to defeat Rakhmatullayev in a straight-set win, 6-4, 6-3, and Charlelie Cosnet defeated Sheldon in a 6-0, 7-5 match.
The Spartans are back on the road next weekend, heading to Columbia, South Carolina, for the ITA Kickoff Weekend, opening action against Harvard on Saturday, Jan. 24, before facing either host South Carolina or Clemson on Sunday, Jan. 25.
Fans can keep up with the Spartan men's tennis team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by following @MSU_MTennis.
Results:
No. 20 Michigan State vs. Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Jan. 18, 2026
UK 5, MSU 2
Doubles:
Taym Alazmeh/Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) def. Jack Loutit/Eli Stephenson (UK), 7-6
Ozan Baris/Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. Nicolas Arseneault/Jaden Weekes (UK), 7-5
Martin Breysauch/Charlelie Cosnet (UK) def. David Saye/Mitchell Sheldon (MSU), 6-4
Singles:
Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. Antoine Ghibaudo (UK), 6-4, 6-4
Nicolas Arseneault (UK) def. Ozan Baris (MSU), 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
Eli Stephenson (UK) def. Taym Alazmeh (MSU), 6-3, 6-3
Jack Loutit (UK) def. David Saye (MSU), 7-5, 4-6
Jaden Weekes (UK) def. Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU), 6-4, 6-3
Charlelie Cosnet (UK) def. Mitchell Sheldon (MSU), 6-0, 7-5
Order of finish:
Singles: 3, 1, 2, 4, 6, 5
Doubles: 3, 2, 1
The Spartans' line-up included seniors Ozan Baris and David Saye, juniors Taym Alazmeh and Danial Rakhmatullayev, and sophomores Matthew Forbes and Mitchell Sheldon in their spring season opener.
In doubles, the Spartans took an early lead over the Wildcats. No. 14-ranked duo of Alazmeh and Rakhmatullayev defeated No. 69 Jack Loutit and Eli Stephenson, 7-6 (7-5), finishing third to seal the doubles point for the Spartans.
Baris and Forbes teamed up to defeat Nicolas Arseneault and Jaden Weekes, 7-5 to finish first. No. 76-ranked Saye and Sheldon fought hard against Martin Breysauch and Charlelie Cosnet, but came up short by a 6-4 score.
After the Spartans secured the doubles point, the match headed to singles action, where No. 3 Forbes pulled off a straight-set victory over Antoine Ghibaudo, 6-4, 6-4. The Spartan sophomore started his spring campaign strong, going undefeated in doubles and singles action.
Kentucky took the singles point with five wins to secure the match. No. 123-ranked Nicolas Arseneault defeated No. 14 Baris in three sets 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. In a straight-set match, No. 19 Ei Stephenson of UK defeated MSU's Alazmeh, 6-3, 6-3. No. 26 Jack Loutit defeated No. 103 David Saye in a thrilling three-set match, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. Jaden Weekes went on to defeat Rakhmatullayev in a straight-set win, 6-4, 6-3, and Charlelie Cosnet defeated Sheldon in a 6-0, 7-5 match.
The Spartans are back on the road next weekend, heading to Columbia, South Carolina, for the ITA Kickoff Weekend, opening action against Harvard on Saturday, Jan. 24, before facing either host South Carolina or Clemson on Sunday, Jan. 25.
Fans can keep up with the Spartan men's tennis team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by following @MSU_MTennis.
Results:
No. 20 Michigan State vs. Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Jan. 18, 2026
UK 5, MSU 2
Doubles:
Taym Alazmeh/Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) def. Jack Loutit/Eli Stephenson (UK), 7-6
Ozan Baris/Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. Nicolas Arseneault/Jaden Weekes (UK), 7-5
Martin Breysauch/Charlelie Cosnet (UK) def. David Saye/Mitchell Sheldon (MSU), 6-4
Singles:
Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. Antoine Ghibaudo (UK), 6-4, 6-4
Nicolas Arseneault (UK) def. Ozan Baris (MSU), 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
Eli Stephenson (UK) def. Taym Alazmeh (MSU), 6-3, 6-3
Jack Loutit (UK) def. David Saye (MSU), 7-5, 4-6
Jaden Weekes (UK) def. Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU), 6-4, 6-3
Charlelie Cosnet (UK) def. Mitchell Sheldon (MSU), 6-0, 7-5
Order of finish:
Singles: 3, 1, 2, 4, 6, 5
Doubles: 3, 2, 1
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2,1
#1 Singles Match
12
66
Antoine Ghibaudo / 0 [UK]
44
#2 Singles Match
123
653
Nicolas Arseneault / 0 [UK]
276
#3 Singles Match
12
33
Eli Stephenson / 0 (19/-) [UK]
66
#4 Singles Match
123
563
Jack Loutit / 0 (26/-) [UK]
746
#5 Singles Match
12
43
Jaden Weekes / 0 [UK]
66
#6 Singles Match
12
05
Charlelie Cosnet / 0 [UK]
67
Order of Finish:
3,1,2,4,6,5
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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