Michigan State University Athletics
Saturday, April 25
Ojai, Calif.
8 PM ET / 5 PM PT
Michigan State University
4
vs
3
(2) Ohio State
Photo by: Jeff Liang
Spartan Men’s Tennis Wins B1G Tourney Title For First Time in 59 Years After Defeating OSU, 4-3, In Marathon Match
4/26/2026 4:26:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Michigan State wins its first B1G title since 1967, taking nearly seven hours from start time with several weather delays.
OJAI, Calif. – Neither several weather delays nor Ohio State could stand in the way of Michigan State men's tennis winning its first Big Ten Tournament title since 1967 after a dramatic, 4-3 victory over Ohio State in the championship match of the Big Ten Tournament on Saturday night at Libbey Park in Ojai, Calif.
After starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, the match had several weather delays, and finished just before 3 a.m. ET, nearly seven hours after it began.
The spirited fans that waited out all the delays, witnessed the top-seeded Spartans knocking off the 3rd-seeded Buckeyes, who had won 14 of the last 19 B1G Tournament titles since 2006, and were making their 22nd-consecutive appearance in the final.
The last delay was at 12:10 a.m. ET with two matches still going, redshirt-senior Aristotelis Thanos at No. 1 singles and sophomore Matthew Forbes at No. 2 singles. When play resumed at approximately 2:30 a.m. ET after getting the courts dried following the latest rain stoppage, Thanos battled OSU's Aidan Kim tough, but fell 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-5, which tied the team score at 3-3, setting up the drama on court 2 for all the marbles.
Forbes defeated Jack Anthrop in a thrilling three-set slugfest, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3) to clinch the match, and the title, for the Spartans.
This is the second time this season the Spartans have defeated the Buckeyes. The first time they met this season was on March 15 when the Spartans came out victorious in Columbus for the first time since 1998 and ended the Buckeyes' 49-match conference win streak, dealing OSU its first conference home match since 2003.
The Spartans took to the courts with plenty of momentum after defeating UCLA in the semifinal round on Friday.
In doubles action, the Green & White took a powerful lead with the doubles point. At No. 1 doubles, the dynamic duo of senior Ozan Baris and Forbes defeated Ohio State's Brandon Carpico and Nikita Filin 6-2.
Following their lead, the Spartan pair of junior Taym Al-Azmeh and sophomore Mitchell Sheldon defeated Alex Okonkwo and Alexander Bernard at No. 2 doubles, 6-3.
Thanos and sophomore Danial Rakhmatullayev took the court opposite Aidan Kim and Bryce Nakashima, and were up 4-3 before their match went unfinished as MSU clinched the doubles point, marking only the fourth time this season that OSU had dropped the doubles point.
In singles action, the Green & White dominated the courts to earn three more victories. Starting off strong for the Spartans, Baris defeated Preston Stearns in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. At No. 4 singles, Al-Azmeh defeated the No. 118-ranked Bryce Nakashima in a three-set battle, 3-6, 6-0, 7-5.
At No. 2 singles, Forbes defeated Jack Anthrop in a thrilling three-set 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), to clinch the match and the title for the Spartans.
At No. 1 singles, Thanos squared off against Aidan Kim, but fell 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-5. Nikita Filin defeated Rakhmatullayev at No. 4 singles, 6-4, 6-4. At No. 6 singles, Sheldon put up a three-set battle against Alexander Bernard, but fell 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
The NCAA Selection Show is Monday, April 27, at 4 p.m. ET and will be streamed on NCAA.com, as the Green & White will find out their NCAA Regional pairings, with Regionals beginning on Friday, May 1.
No. 1 seed Michigan State vs. No. 2 seed Ohio State
Big Ten Tournament Final
Ojai, Calif. (Libbey Park)
April 25, 2026
MSU 4, OSU 3
Doubles:
1. Matthew Forbes/Ozan Baris (MSU) def. #5 Brandon Carpico/Nikita Filin (OSU) 6-2
2. Taym Alazmeh/Mitchell Sheldon (MSU) def. #39 Alex Okonkwo/Alexander Bernard (OSU) 6-3
3. Aristotelis Thanos/Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) vs. #53 Aidan Kim/Bryce Nakashima (OSU) 4-3 (UF)
Order of Finish: 1, 2
Singles:
1. #12 Aidan Kim (OSU) def. #33 Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-5
2. #14 Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. #29 Jack Anthrop (OSU) 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3)
3. #57 Ozan Baris (MSU) def. #30 Preston Stearns (OSU) 6-2, 6-4
4. #85 Nikita Filin (OSU) def. Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Taym Alazmeh (MSU) def. #118 Bryce Nakashima (OSU) 3-6, 6-0, 7-5
6. Alexander Bernard (OSU) def. Mitchell Sheldon (MSU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 6, 5, 1, 2
After starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, the match had several weather delays, and finished just before 3 a.m. ET, nearly seven hours after it began.
The spirited fans that waited out all the delays, witnessed the top-seeded Spartans knocking off the 3rd-seeded Buckeyes, who had won 14 of the last 19 B1G Tournament titles since 2006, and were making their 22nd-consecutive appearance in the final.
The last delay was at 12:10 a.m. ET with two matches still going, redshirt-senior Aristotelis Thanos at No. 1 singles and sophomore Matthew Forbes at No. 2 singles. When play resumed at approximately 2:30 a.m. ET after getting the courts dried following the latest rain stoppage, Thanos battled OSU's Aidan Kim tough, but fell 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-5, which tied the team score at 3-3, setting up the drama on court 2 for all the marbles.
Forbes defeated Jack Anthrop in a thrilling three-set slugfest, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3) to clinch the match, and the title, for the Spartans.
This is the second time this season the Spartans have defeated the Buckeyes. The first time they met this season was on March 15 when the Spartans came out victorious in Columbus for the first time since 1998 and ended the Buckeyes' 49-match conference win streak, dealing OSU its first conference home match since 2003.
The Spartans took to the courts with plenty of momentum after defeating UCLA in the semifinal round on Friday.
In doubles action, the Green & White took a powerful lead with the doubles point. At No. 1 doubles, the dynamic duo of senior Ozan Baris and Forbes defeated Ohio State's Brandon Carpico and Nikita Filin 6-2.
Following their lead, the Spartan pair of junior Taym Al-Azmeh and sophomore Mitchell Sheldon defeated Alex Okonkwo and Alexander Bernard at No. 2 doubles, 6-3.
Thanos and sophomore Danial Rakhmatullayev took the court opposite Aidan Kim and Bryce Nakashima, and were up 4-3 before their match went unfinished as MSU clinched the doubles point, marking only the fourth time this season that OSU had dropped the doubles point.
In singles action, the Green & White dominated the courts to earn three more victories. Starting off strong for the Spartans, Baris defeated Preston Stearns in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. At No. 4 singles, Al-Azmeh defeated the No. 118-ranked Bryce Nakashima in a three-set battle, 3-6, 6-0, 7-5.
At No. 2 singles, Forbes defeated Jack Anthrop in a thrilling three-set 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), to clinch the match and the title for the Spartans.
At No. 1 singles, Thanos squared off against Aidan Kim, but fell 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-5. Nikita Filin defeated Rakhmatullayev at No. 4 singles, 6-4, 6-4. At No. 6 singles, Sheldon put up a three-set battle against Alexander Bernard, but fell 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
The NCAA Selection Show is Monday, April 27, at 4 p.m. ET and will be streamed on NCAA.com, as the Green & White will find out their NCAA Regional pairings, with Regionals beginning on Friday, May 1.
No. 1 seed Michigan State vs. No. 2 seed Ohio State
Big Ten Tournament Final
Ojai, Calif. (Libbey Park)
April 25, 2026
MSU 4, OSU 3
Doubles:
1. Matthew Forbes/Ozan Baris (MSU) def. #5 Brandon Carpico/Nikita Filin (OSU) 6-2
2. Taym Alazmeh/Mitchell Sheldon (MSU) def. #39 Alex Okonkwo/Alexander Bernard (OSU) 6-3
3. Aristotelis Thanos/Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) vs. #53 Aidan Kim/Bryce Nakashima (OSU) 4-3 (UF)
Order of Finish: 1, 2
Singles:
1. #12 Aidan Kim (OSU) def. #33 Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-5
2. #14 Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. #29 Jack Anthrop (OSU) 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3)
3. #57 Ozan Baris (MSU) def. #30 Preston Stearns (OSU) 6-2, 6-4
4. #85 Nikita Filin (OSU) def. Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Taym Alazmeh (MSU) def. #118 Bryce Nakashima (OSU) 3-6, 6-0, 7-5
6. Alexander Bernard (OSU) def. Mitchell Sheldon (MSU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 6, 5, 1, 2
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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