The Sentinel: Atkins Tennis Center

Illinois tennis team to host three-day Fighting Illini Invite

URBANA - There is a big weekend of college tennis on tap at Atkins Tennis Center. The Illinois men’s tennis team will host Columbia and Boise State in the Fighting Illini Invite this Friday through Sunday. The three days of jam-packed tennis competition will feature singles and doubles play, along with hidden duals.

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 17
10 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!

Ranked #4 in the nation, Scott Aikman has sights set at Cincy tennis invite

Champaign tennis veteran Scott Aikman poses for a photo at Atkins Tennis Center on Tuesday. He and doubles partner Terry Warner are ranked #4 in the nation. The pair will play at the home of the Cincinnati Open on Sunday and Monday in an invitational tournament with 15 other top doubles competitors in the 70+ age group.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

CHAMPAIGN - As the summer sun sets over Mason, Ohio, one of America's oldest tennis tournaments—the Cincinnati Open is in full swing. First held in 1899, this storied event is not just a footnote in tennis history; it’s a vibrant tapestry woven with the dreams and triumphs of countless athletes. Now, as it embarks on its 125th year in 2024, the Cincinnati Open is poised for a renaissance, returning to its original name and solidifying its status with a bold 25-year commitment from Beemok Capital to keep the ATP Masters 1000 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

This Sunday and Monday, Champaign's Scott Aikman will play on the same courts Ben Shelton and Felix Auger-Aliassime posted wins earlier today for a shot at the Grand Prix Masters doubles title in the 70+ division on Monday. He hopes that area tennis fans and players who will attend Sunday's semifinal and Monday's pro finals will stop by to cheer him on in his bid for another tennis title.

Aikman, who is 77 years old and stands at an impressive 6'4", embodies the spirit of a seasoned tennis competitor. He used to run a restaurant but retired seven years ago. Aikman has spent decades traveling the world, chasing tennis balls across various locations such as the sun-soaked courts of South Africa, the bustling streets of Mexico City, and the iconic avenues of Paris and Barcelona. To Aikman, a tennis racquet is more than just a piece of equipment; it's a passport to adventure.

Recounting stories of spontaneous matches with newfound friends in foreign lands. “I’ve even bought a racquet just to play while I’m traveling—there’s always someone looking to hit.”

Aikman’s journey into the world of tennis began at the age of 12 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

“There wasn’t much to do as a kid,” he recalls, his eyes lighting up at the memory. “The junior high school had tennis courts, and we spent all day playing.” That passion has only grown over the decades, and he’s not slowing down anytime soon.

“I’ll be turning 78 this November,” he says with a twinkle in his eye. “That gives me one more year in the 75s before I move up to the 80s. I’m looking forward to it!”

While many may shy away from the physical demands of the sport, Aikman thrives on it. “I love the activity,” he said with a smile. “Running around, reaching for balls—that’s what keeps me young.”

Aikman hasn't the faintest urge to make the switch to pickleball. “I have absolutely no interest in that. They just stand there,” he laughed.

With 65 years of experience, Aikman has a wealth of knowledge to share with younger players. “Keep hitting the ball, have fun, and treat each point like it’s a new one,” he advises. “I’ve seen players get down on themselves after losing a point. If you lose a few, just let it go and move on to the next.”

Aikman will team up with Terry Warner, from Saline, MI, for the invitation-only tournament this weekend.

"We met at a tennis tournament and played together," explaining how the two joined up to become a formidable doubles pair. "We played well together during that and decided we would play again."

The duo, who have won titles or placed in the top three in a half dozen tournaments, are ranked #4 Nationally in 75s. They teamed up, playing their last three tournaments together on clay courts in Pinehurst and Virginia Beach.

C-U's Spin Doctors head to state tennis tournament on Saturday

BLOOMINGTON - After dominating the Champaign-Urbana 3.5 league, going 8-1 in the regular season, the Spin Doctors advanced to the USTA District Tournament on Sunday at Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington. Captained by Kai Wang of Champaign, the district title drought for a CU postseason team ended with a 3-2 victory by Spin Doctors over Solty's from Quincy, 3-2.

The Spin Doctors won on the #1 singles court, where Arjun Shah defeated Rick Crider, 6-1, 6-3. The team also picked up wins on two doubles courts to advance to the next round of competition. Shah, who starts graduate school this fall at Stanford University, is unbeaten in 3.5-level play this summer.

Geoffrey Lin lines up a shot during his regular season match with partner Francesco Botticella against Smokin' Aces. Lin and postseason partner D. Comte dropped both sets in a close district match against Bryan Fasano and Roberto Hernandez, 6-4, 7-6.

Paul Cheung and Ben Lee also notched a win for the CU contingent at #2 doubles, defeating Sammy Shumake and partner Martin McCarthy, 6-2, 6-3. Cheung, a doubles specialist, is 6-1 this summer. Meanwhile, Lee boasts an undefeated doubles record at 4-0.

"It's super exciting to be a part of this team and be able to represent CU at state this year after missing out for such a long time," said team member Hans Dee. Playing at #3 doubles with Wang, they easily won their match over Douglas Mallett and Travis Friye, 6-2, 6-1. "We celebrated by going to a great Chinese buffet in Bloomington after the win.

The last time a Champaign men's 3.5-level tennis team won a district title was in 2007. The Quincy team won six out of the previous seven district championships. Before 2016, the district title was won by a Bloomington or Peoria team.

The Spin Doctors advance to the state Championships to face the 19-man roster of Heritage Rustagi, who finished their regular season in a three-way 7-2 tie with Centennial Anderson and 7 River Trails Ciuca. The team match is scheduled at the Heritage Tennis Club in Arlington Heights.

So far this season, the team's only blemish this summer came on June 5 via a 3-2 loss to Smokin' Aces (2-7).

Members of the Spin Doctors are Kai Wang (Captain), Jack Wang, Arjun Shah, Aditya Gopalan, Ben Lee, Paul Cheung, D Comte, Francesco Botticella, Stephen Paul, Christopher Sisson, Geoffrey Lin, Hans Dee, Charles Sikora, Carl Guo, Jun Huang, and Doyeon Kim.

Area teams also advancing to state championships in other divisions include:

Teri Scaggs 4.0M Adult 18&O
Renee Brown 3.5W Adult 18&O
Leslie Hartman 3.0W Adult 18&O
Sangwon Park 3.0M Adult 18&O
Spin Doctors Kai Wang 3.5M Adult 18&O

Feel the Rush!

Illini advance, first-round results from the Neitzel Family Open

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Former University of Illinois player Alexander Petrov lines up a down-the-line shot during his match against Zeke Clark. In the sweltering late afternoon heat on Wednesday, Petrov, who had lost two previous matches to Clark, won the day at the International Tennis Federation-sanctioned tournament held at Atkins Tennis Center.

URBANA - One former and two current University of Illinois tennis players were on their home court at Atkins Tennis Center on Tuesday. The trio, each having to battle three-set matches, advanced to Wednesday's second-round competition at the Neitzel Family Open.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Karlis Ozolins stays in the point against Andre Ilagan as an afternoon storm rolls in toward Atkins Tennis Center. After a two-hour rain delay Ozolins fell 6-3, 7-5.

In an alumni match, Alexander Petrov took down Illinois assistant tennis coach Zeke Clark in a grueling three-setter, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0. Despite the loss, Clark still owns the series between the two former Big Ten players at the pro level, 2-1.

William Mroz, who enters his senior year at Illinois, defeated Canadian Dan Martin in a marathon match 6(2)-7, 6-2, 6-1.

Later, Kenta Miyoshi dropped his first set 6-3 and then took the next two, 7-6(5), 6-4.

The third installment of the Neitzel Family Open has a total purse of $25,000. The week-long, ITF-sanctioned event has attracted young players from all over the world.

Below are the complete results from the tournament's first round.

Main Draw Results ~
Tyler Zink def Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez 6(5)-7, 6-4, 6-2
Kenta Miyoshi def James Tracy 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4
Connor Bruce def Nathan Powwith 6-3, 6-4
Harrison Adams def Cleeve Harper 6-3, 6-1
Andre Ilagan def Karlis Ozolins 6-3, 7-5
William Mroz def Dan Martin 6(2)-7, 6-2, 6-1
Aidan Kim def Axel Nefve 7-6(5), 6-2
Gavin Young def Enzo Wallart 6-4, 6-3
William Grant def Ryuki Matsuda 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
Noah Schachter def Lucas Horve 6-3, 7-6(5)
Adhithya Ganesan def Alexander Bernard 6-3, 6-4
Cannon Kingsley def Gabrielius Guzauskas 6-2, 6-3
Duarte Vale def Kody Pearson 6-2, 6-1
Colton Smith def Kyle Kang 6-4, 6-4
Alexander Petrov dev Ezekiel Clark 5-7, 6-2, 6-0
Aidan McHugh def Emilio Gomez 6-4, 6(3)-7, 6-3

Clark falls in first-round match on college home court

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

URBANA - Former Fighting Illini standout Zeke Clark hits a forehand shot during his match against Alexander Petrov, who graduated this past May from Illinois. Clark, who dominated Petrov in their two previous meetings, fell 7-5, 2-6, 0-6 on Wednesday at the Neitzel Family Open tournament at Atkins Tennis Center. Clark is an assistant coach for the Illinois program.