Lucas Horve and Illinois tennis fans cheer on the Fighting Illini at last March's home match against Ohio State. Tennis fans can get an early look at the Illini and several top collegiate tennis players in the nation at Atkins Tennis Center in their first home meet of the season.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
The action gets underway on Friday at 10 a.m. with four doubles pairs from each school competing for first place in a doubles tournament. The invitational meet concludes on Sunday afternoon with a hidden dual featuring Boise State against players from both Columbia and Illinois. The Illini host Boise State and Columbia after opening their spring schedule with a trip to Arizona for the Sun Devil Preseason Invite. Along with playing singles and doubles matches against Arizona State and Texas A&M, the Orange and Blue participated in training sessions and team-bonding activities during their time in the Grand Canyon State. Columbia, ranked No. 8 in the first ITA team rankings of 2025, will make its first visit to the University of Illinois campus. Reloading this season, the Lions are coming off an Elite Eight appearance at the NCAA Team Tournament and finished last season 23-4. Junior Michael Zheng, the top-ranked Division I player in the country, won the NCAA Singles Championship in November after finishing as runner-up one year earlier. Boise State, which finished 2024 with a 20-11 record, earned a share of the Mountain West regular-season title before winning its conference tournament in dominant fashion. The Broncos were beaten by No. 11 Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Jett Middleton, ranked No. 111, is Boise State’s top player to watch. The Illini will be led by two ITA-ranked players: No. 14 Kenta Miyoshi and No. 30 William Mroz. Three other top-100 singles players fill the ranks of Illinois’ opponents, including Zheng at No. 1, with teammates Hugo Hashimoto (No. 33) and Nicolas Kotzen (No. 42).
FIGHTING ILLINI INVITE SCHEDULE
(TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Friday, January 1710 a.m. CT ~
Doubles tournament (four doubles teams per school, sets to six)
2 p.m. CT ~
Singles matches: Columbia, Boise State, Illinois
5 p.m. CT ~
Illinois hidden dual: Illinois vs. 1/2 Columbia & 1/2 Boise
Extra singles matches to follow
Saturday, January 18
12 p.m. CT ~
Columbia hidden dual: Columbia vs. 1/2 Boise & 1/2 Illinois
3 p.m. CT ~
Singles matches: Columbia, Boise State, Illinois
5 p.m. CT ~
Extra singles matches to follow
Sunday, January 19
10 a.m. CT
Boise State hidden dual: Boise State vs. 1/2 Columbia & 1/2 Illinois
1 p.m. CT ~
Extra singles matches to follow
Feel the Rush!
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