Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Harvard
No. 24 Spartan Men's Tennis Drops Tight, 4-2, Match To Harvard Thursday In ITA Kickoff Opener
1/22/2026 9:58:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MSU battled tough in singles, but Harvard secured doubles.
Harvard secured the doubles point after splitting No. 2 and 3 doubles, and No. 1 went to the brink, with Harvard's Benjamin Privara and Nathan Blokhin defeating 14th-ranked Danial Rakhmatullayev and Taym Alazmeh, 7-6 (7-2).
The Spartan pair of senior Ozan Baris and sophomore Matthew Forbes defeated Harvard's Masato Perera and Elisha Thornton in a quick 6-2 match at No. 2 doubles. Kolos Kincses and Rohan Murali defeated 76th-ranked David Saye and Mitchell Sheldon, 6-4 at No. 3, setting up the drama for the No. 1 doubles.
In singles, the Spartans went 2-3 against the Crimson. Spartan sophomores highlighted the day, with Rakhmatullayev defeating Kolos Kincses in a quick 6-4, 6-1 match at No. 5 singles, and Mitchell Sheldon coming out victorious over Elisha Thornton, 6-1, 6-4 at No. 6 singles.
Nathan Blokhim defeated Alazmeh in a close, three-set match, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 3. Rohan Murali defeated 14th-ranked Baris 6-2, 6-2, and Masato Perera defeated 103rd-ranked Saye, 6-3, 6-3. Forbes, ranked at No. 3 in the ITA singles rankings, and No. 109-ranked Peter Benjamin Privara of Harvard, went unfinished in a tight, 6-7, 6-3 battle.
The Spartans will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m.
Fans can keep up with the Spartan men's tennis team on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by following @MSU_MTennis.
No. 24 Michigan State vs. Harvard
Columbia, South Carolina
Jan. 22, 2026
Harvard 4, Michigan State 2
Doubles:
1. Benjamin Privara/Nathan Blokhin (HARV) def. #14 Danial Rakhmatullayev/Taym Alazmeh (MSU), 7-6 (7-2)
2. Ozan Baris/Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. Masato Perera/Elisha Thornton (HARV), 6-2
3. Kolos Kincses/Rohan Murali (HARV) def. #76 Mitchell Sheldon/David Saye (MSU), 6-4
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles:
1. #109 Benjamin Privara (HARV) vs. #3 Matthew Forbes (MSU), 7-6, 3-6, unfinished
2. Rohan Murali (HARV) def. #14 Ozan Baris (MSU), 6-2, 6-2
3. Nathan Blokhin (HARV) def. Taym Alazmeh (MSU), 3-6, 5-4, 6-2
4. Masato Perera (HARV) def. #103 David Saye (MSU), 6-3, 6-3
5. Danial Rakhmatullaye (MSU) def. Kolos Kincses (HARV), 6-4, 6-1
6. Mitchell Sheldon (MSU) def. Elisha Thornton (HARV), 6-1, 6-4
Order of finish: 6, 2, 5, 4, 3
Players Mentioned
