Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications
Ozan Baris Named To ATP Next Gen Accelerator Program
6/12/2026 1:56:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Former Spartan men’s tennis player earns opportunity to fast track professional career through ATP Challenger Tour.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Former Michigan State men's tennis player Ozan Baris has been named to the 2026 PIF ATP Next Gen Accelerator Program, announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), in partnership with the ATP Tour.
This is the second-straight year that Baris has been on the ATP Next Gen Accelerator Program list.
Composed of 23 athletes from 19 institutions, the 2026-27 class is poised to continue the success seen by past members of the PIF ATP Next Gen Accelerator, earning opportunities to fast track their professional careers through the ATP Challenger Tour.
Student-athletes earn qualification into this program by finishing in Top 20 of the Year-End ITA Singles Rankings or by reaching the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Singles Championship. For those players who have finished their time in college tennis are granted up to eight (8) Accelerator Spots at Challenger 50 and 75 tournaments, with opportunities split between main draw (for Top 10 ITA ranked players) and qualifying (11-20).
Baris rewrote the Spartan men's tennis history book with his fourth ITA All-American award, announced last month. He is MSU's only multiple All-America honoree, earning the accolade in 2023 in doubles, while garnering recognition in 2024, 2025 and 2026 in singles.
In 2026, Baris helped MSU to a historic season winning both the Big Ten Conference regular season and tournament titles, for the first time since 1967. MSU finished No. 18 in the final ITA National Rankings, ending its historic season with a 19-9 overall record and a 12-1 B1G record, reeling off 10-straight wins to open league play, on the way to the regular-season B1G title and the top seed at the B1G Tournament. The Spartans outlasted Ohio State in a dramatic, 4-3, marathon match on the night of Saturday, April 25. 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.
Michigan State qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third-straight year, reaching the second round of the tournament for the second-straight season.
Baris finished No. 39 in the final individual rankings.
A local talent from Okemos, Michigan, Baris is MSU's first four-time ITA All-American, earning the honors in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. Baris posted a 21-10 singles record this season, missing several weeks with an injury, but returning to action to help lead the Spartans to the B1G regular-season championship, clinching the title in the final regular-season match and his final home match at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center.
Fans can keep up to date with the Spartan men's tennis team in the offseason on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter by following @MSU_MTennis.
This is the second-straight year that Baris has been on the ATP Next Gen Accelerator Program list.
Composed of 23 athletes from 19 institutions, the 2026-27 class is poised to continue the success seen by past members of the PIF ATP Next Gen Accelerator, earning opportunities to fast track their professional careers through the ATP Challenger Tour.
Student-athletes earn qualification into this program by finishing in Top 20 of the Year-End ITA Singles Rankings or by reaching the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Singles Championship. For those players who have finished their time in college tennis are granted up to eight (8) Accelerator Spots at Challenger 50 and 75 tournaments, with opportunities split between main draw (for Top 10 ITA ranked players) and qualifying (11-20).
Baris rewrote the Spartan men's tennis history book with his fourth ITA All-American award, announced last month. He is MSU's only multiple All-America honoree, earning the accolade in 2023 in doubles, while garnering recognition in 2024, 2025 and 2026 in singles.
In 2026, Baris helped MSU to a historic season winning both the Big Ten Conference regular season and tournament titles, for the first time since 1967. MSU finished No. 18 in the final ITA National Rankings, ending its historic season with a 19-9 overall record and a 12-1 B1G record, reeling off 10-straight wins to open league play, on the way to the regular-season B1G title and the top seed at the B1G Tournament. The Spartans outlasted Ohio State in a dramatic, 4-3, marathon match on the night of Saturday, April 25. 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.
Michigan State qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third-straight year, reaching the second round of the tournament for the second-straight season.
Baris finished No. 39 in the final individual rankings.
A local talent from Okemos, Michigan, Baris is MSU's first four-time ITA All-American, earning the honors in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. Baris posted a 21-10 singles record this season, missing several weeks with an injury, but returning to action to help lead the Spartans to the B1G regular-season championship, clinching the title in the final regular-season match and his final home match at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center.
Fans can keep up to date with the Spartan men's tennis team in the offseason on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter by following @MSU_MTennis.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
Monday, April 27
Sunday, April 19
Thursday, January 23
Tuesday, January 14