After several up-and-down months with a regular season record of 7-14, Tulane Men’s Tennis had a chance to compete in the finale of their season last week: the AAC Men’s Tennis Championship. 

Tulane started the week with wins over University of Texas at San Antonio and Southern Methodist University. But their path to victory ended in the semifinals after a loss to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte 49ers. Despite their valiant effort, the Green Wave couldn’t maintain its momentum and fell short of a chance for a shot at a title match appearance.

Entering the tournament as the 10th seed, Tulane Men’s Tennis made a statement victory over the UTSA Roadrunners. The 4-2 triumph was a crucial victory to start the tournament, and it was junior Luka Petrovic who showed out with clutch wins in both doubles and singles to push Tulane over the line. In highlight fashion, Petrovic dominated his opponent 6-0 in a critical third set to give Tulane the victory. 

In their quarterfinal match against the formidable No. 2 seed SMU, Tulane continued to impress by securing another hard-fought 4-2 victory. To start the match, Tulane’s most experienced senior players, Benji Jacobson and Billy Suarez, secured an early singles point that set the tone for the rest of the play. Tulane went on to secure the always crucial doubles point. In the singles portion, Tulane kept the same energy. Despite an early 2-1 lead by SMU, Tulane battled back as Fynn Kuenkler and Petrovic both won their respective singles matches to take back the lead. From there, Luc Hoeijmans sealed the match in a three-set thriller, sending the Green Wave to the semifinals. 

In the semis, Tulane faced off against the sixth-seeded Charlotte 49ers. The match against Charlotte started in favor of Tulane; they clinched the doubles point for the third consecutive time in the tournament, and an early singles point won by Kuenkler put the Wave up 2-0. 

However, the 49ers fought back fast, quickly tying the match 2-2 after quick straight sets victories in singles play. Tulane ultimately had two chances to secure the win with the match on the line. Still, Charlotte overcame the Wave to claim a 4-2 victory and advance to the championship match. 

Despite the disappointment of falling short in the semifinals, Tulane’s performance throughout the tournament was an example of the team’s competitive spirit and camaraderie. As the season ends, Tulane Men’s Tennis can proudly reflect on their achievements and look forward with great optimism to a bright future on the court. With a promising roster and a strong foundation, the Green Wave is well-positioned to continue making waves in collegiate tennis.