ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell men's tennis team opens its dual-meet spring season this weekend with a pair of Midwest road tests, visiting Louisville on Friday, Jan. 16, at 5 p.m., before taking on Purdue on Sunday, Jan. 18, at 11 a.m.

Cornell enters the spring off a productive fall season. Sophomore Rodrigo Fernandes led the Big Red in singles at 10-3, while freshmen Nathan Gold (9-3) and Rethin Pranav Senthil Kumar (9-4) also posted strong debuts. Junior Felipe Pinzon (5-4) and senior Petar Teodorovic (5-4) add experience to a deep singles lineup.

In doubles, Cornell showcased multiple reliable pairings, including NCAA-qualifying tandem Pinzon and Teodorovic, who went 6-1 during the fall and captured the ITA New England Regional title. The teams of Fernandes and Senthil Kumar and sophomore Rushil Khosla and Senthil Kumar each finished 5-1, highlighting the Big Red's flexibility entering dual play.

Overall, Cornell players combined for a 48-32 singles record (.600) and a 26-14 mark (.650) in doubles during the fall. The Big Red sports a 70-30 dual match record (.700) over the past five seasons with three NCAA Tournament appearances under head coach Silviu Tanasiou.

Friday's matchup renews a recent series with Louisville. The programs have met four times since the 2010-11 season and will face each other for the third straight year. Cornell claimed a 4-1 home win last season but fell 6-1 when the teams met in Kentucky during the 2023–24 campaign. The Cardinals posted a 13-18 dual match record this past season under head coach Rodrigo da Silva. 

Sunday's contest pits Cornell against Purdue, a series the Big Red lead 2-0 dating back to 2009, including a 5-2 victory last season. The Boilermakers finished the 2024-25 season with a 12-10 overall record under the direction of head coach Geoff Young.

Cornell will next head to Charlottesville, Va. for the ITA Kick-Off Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 24-25. The Big Red is scheduled to face Michigan on day one and either Virginia or Iowa on Day two.