ITHACA, N.Y. -- A rematch of last season's NCAA Tournament first round is on the docket when the Cornell men's tennis team meets Michigan at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend on Friday, Jan. 23 at 9 a.m. at the Virginia Tennis Complex at the Boar's Head Sports Club. The Big Red starts the two-day tournament as the No. 3 seed among the four competing squads. The consolation game will be held on Saturday, Jan 24 at 9 a.m., while the championship match will be held at noon.

While Michigan leads the all-time series 5-1 between the programs, the lone victory was the Big Red's 4-0 sweep of the Wolverines on May 3, 2025 in the first round of last year's NCAA Tournament in Austin, Texas. The Big Red is off to a 2-0 start this spring, winning road contests against Louisville (4-0) and Purdue (4-3) in the opening weekend. The Wolverines opened the fall with a 4-1 loss at No. 9 NC State this past Monday.

Sophomore Rodrigo Fernandes won a pair of matches at No. 1 singles for the Big Red in capturing victories over ACC and Big Ten opponents on the opening weekend of spring competition to up his record to 11-4. Also going 2-0 during the first weekend was Felipe Pinzon at No. 4 singles, improving to 7-4 overall. In doubles, Rushil Khosla and Rethin Pranav Senthil Kumar were 2-0 at No. 2, helping Cornell clinch the doubles point in both wins. The NCAA Tournament-qualifying duo are now 7-1 on the season. The Big Red sports a 72-30 dual match record (.706) over the past five seasons with three NCAA Tournament appearances under head coach Silviu Tanasiou.

Depending on the results of Friday's match, the Big Red will face either No. 5 Virginia, who already has a pair of top-three wins this spring, or Indiana on Saturday.  

Cornell will turn its attention to in-state rivals when it hosts Buffalo on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 5 p.m. and St. John's on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. at the Reis Tennis Center.