CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois makes its long-awaited return to Atkins Tennis Center on Saturday with a doubleheader against Clemson and Notre Dame. The Fighting Illini (2-2) will take on the Tigers at 11 a.m. CT before facing the Fighting Irish at 6 p.m. CT.
The men's tennis matches are two of three contests set to be played at Atkins on Saturday, with the women's tennis team slated to play Baylor at 3 p.m. CT.
Saturday's matches mark the first home duals for the Orange and Blue this season after playing their first four matches on the road this spring.
Last Time Out
After having an idle week last weekend, the Illini returned from their trip to North Carolina with a ranked loss and a road win. Illinois fell to No. 7 Duke on Jan. 31 before bouncing back with a victory over North Carolina on Feb. 1.
Despite dropping the doubles point against the Tar Heels, the Fighting Illini fought back in singles play with victories at No. 1, 2, 4, and 5 to post their second road win of the season and secure a 4-2 triumph against UNC.
Mathis Debru tied the dual at 1-1 with a dominant straight-set win at No. 5 singles. No. 30 William Mroz returned to the win column shortly after with his second ranked victory of the spring, a result that gave the Orange and Blue the lead for the first time via his 6-2, 6-2 triumph at No. 2 singles.
After North Carolina tied the match at 2-2, Illinois pulled back in front via Tyler Bowers' straight-set decision, 6-2, 6-4, over No. 68 Anthony Wright at No. 4 singles for his second ranked win in as many days.
At No. 1 singles, No. 14 Kenta Miyoshi fell behind by two breaks to UNC's Djakouris in the first set, but Miyoshi battled back by winning the next four games before completing the comeback and taking the opening set, 7-6(4). In a back-and-forth second set, Miyoshi eventually prevailed, 7-6(3), to clinch his match and the team victory for the Illini.
About Clemson, Notre Dame
The Tigers enter the weekend with a perfect 8-0 record, including two wins over ranked opponents in No. 16 Michigan State and No. 17 South Carolina. Clemson has recorded sweeps in four of its eight matches thus far, including each of its three most recent contests, while the Tigers are 2-0 away from home this season.
Notre Dame boasts an impressive 8-1 mark, with the Fighting Irish hitting the road for the first time on Saturday after playing its first nine matches on their home courts. The Irish's lone loss came at the hands of Princeton on Jan. 17, and they are currently riding a six-match winning streak.
Series History
Illinois holds a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series against Clemson, with the first match dating back to 1969. After the Tigers won the first two meetings between the sides, the Illini have won the last four, most recently posting a 4-0 win over Clemson on Jan. 25, 2014. The Tigers will make their first trip to Champaign-Urbana since 2006.
The Illinois-Notre Dame series dates back to the programs' first meeting in 1933. Since then, the Fighting Illini and the Fighting Irish have faced off 58 times, with the Orange and Blue holding a 33-25 all-time edge. Illinois recorded a 4-3 win in the most recent contest between the sides in 2024, while the teams have squared off at least once in every season since 1988-89.
Players in the ITA Rankings
Team
Singles
- No. 13: Kenta Miyoshi (Illinois)
- No. 33: Sebastian Dominko (Notre Dame)
- No. 42: William Mroz (Illinois)
- No. 51: Noa Vukadin (Clemson)
- No. 79: Tyler Bowers (Illinois)
- No. 118: Wissam Abderrahman (Clemson)
Doubles
- No. 36: Noa Vukadin/Maxwell Smith (Clemson)
- No. 84: Sebastian Dominko/Peter Nad (Notre Dame)
