Illinois Set for Big Ten Tournament at Ohio State

PREVIEW

[8] #33 Illinois at the Big Ten Tournament
Big Ten Tournament First Round	vs. [9] #46 Oregon
Date	Thursday, April 24, 10 a.m. CT
Location	Columbus, Ohio
Tournament Links	Live Stats // Live Streams
Notes/Record Book	Illinois Match Notes // 2025 Record Book
Illinois	Roster \| Schedule \| Season Stats
Shop	Fighting Illini Store
Social Media	X \| Instagram \| Facebook

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois begins its postseason on Thursday morning in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, with the Fighting Illini set to take on Oregon at 10 a.m. CT in Columbus, Ohio.

The winner of Thursday's clash advances to the quarterfinals and will take on top-seeded and No. 6-ranked Ohio State on Friday at 8 a.m. CT.

Illinois, the No. 8 seed in the conference tournament, finished the regular season with a 14-10 record and a 7-6 mark in Big Ten play.

After the Illini and the Ducks went decades without ever playing, they will now meet twice in less than a week. Oregon claimed a 4-3 win over Illinois on April 18 in Eugene, Oregon, in the first-ever contest between the sides, with Thursday morning's clash marking the Ducks' first Big Ten Tournament match in program history after joining the conference last summer.

The No. 9-seeded Ducks enter the week with a 13-12 record after closing their conference campaign at 5-8. Oregon features two ranked singles players: No. 104 Lenn Luemkemann and No. 105 Vlad Breazu.

More information regarding the 2025 Big Ten Men's Tennis Tournament can be found HERE.

LAST TIME OUT

Illinois closed the regular season with a dominant road win over Washington, 6-1, at the Bill Quillian Tennis Stadium in Seattle on Sunday afternoon.

After winning the doubles point, the Fighting Illini posted singles triumphs at No. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 en route to victory. Illinois' win over Washington snapped the Huskies' five-match winning streak and handed the Huskies just their second loss at home this season.

The Illini secured the doubles point via dominant wins at No. 1 and 2. Kenta Miyoshi and Max Mroz were the first to finish, registering a 6-1 decision over Soham Purohit and Nedim Suko on Court 2. On Court 1, Tyler Bowers and Mathis Debru teamed up for the first time this season and sealed the doubles point with a 6-2 triumph against Cesar Bouchelaghem and Dzianis Zharyn.

Illinois' advantage grew to 2-0 behind a win at No. 5 singles. With Debru in front in the first set by a 5-2 margin behind breaks in the fifth and seventh games, his opponent retired due to injury.

Miyoshi was next to finish, posting a three-set victory over No. 35 Cesar Bouchelaghem, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, to improve to 8-2 in Big Ten play.

Bowers ultimately clinched the match with his second singles win of the weekend, coming from behind to record a three-set win against Dzianis Zharyn at No. 2 singles.

With the sides agreeing to play out, Max Mroz tallied a triumph of his own – a three-set decision over Rohan Belday to add to the Illini's lead. Jeremy Zhang lengthened that lead with a three-set victory against Nedim Suko at No. 4 singles.

BIG TEN TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The Illini have 12 Big Ten Tournament titles in program history, most recently winning the competition in 2021. Under head coach Brad Dancer, Illinois has secured the title three times: 2012, 2015, and 2021.

The Orange and Blue's 12 Big Ten Tournament championships are the third-most in conference history, behind only Michigan (33) and Ohio State (17).

Under Dancer, the Illini are 32-15 at the conference tournament heading into their 19th appearance under the 20-year head coach.

At the 2024 Big Ten Tournament, Illinois earned the No. 4 seed, falling to No. 5-seeded Nebraska in the quarterfinals in Evanston, Illinois.

DANCER EARNS CONTRACT EXTENSION THROUGH 2031

Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman has announced a contract extension for longtime Fighting Illini men's tennis head coach Brad Dancer. The new agreement keeps Dancer on contract through the 2030-31 season.

"Brad Dancer is a trusted, veteran leader in our athletics department and one of the most accomplished coaches throughout all of collegiate tennis, and we are thrilled to extend our partnership through the next six years as he continues to lead a championship-caliber men's tennis program," Whitman said. "Brad is a relentless competitor who inspires his athletes and is committed to their development both on and off the court. Despite decades of success, he is never complacent, exhausting every avenue each day to push his team to new heights. We are grateful to Brad and his family for becoming ingrained into the fabric of the University of Illinois community, and we look forward to many more successful years for Fighting Illini Men's Tennis."

Currently in his 20th season as head coach and 21st campaign overall at Illinois, Dancer has guided the Orange and Blue to 17 NCAA Tournament berths, 11 Sweet 16 appearances, three Big Ten Tournament titles, and two Big Ten regular-season conference championships, building on the program's longstanding winning tradition.

Since taking over as head coach on June 28, 2005, Dancer has become the Illinois men's tennis program's all-time winningest coach while currently ranking as the eighth-winningest coach in Big Ten history. A two-time ITA Regional Coach of the Year, Dancer has coached 28 All-Americans, 42 All-Big Ten honorees, four Big Ten Players of the Year, and two Big Ten Freshmen of the Year during his tenure with the Orange and Blue.

Dancer holds a record of 387-183 overall and 161-43 in Big Ten play during his time at the helm of the Fighting Illini, with his overall wins and conference victories both ranking first in program history.

ILLINI EARN FIRST TOP-25 WIN OF SEASON, DEFEAT NO. 12 MICHIGAN

No. 20 Illinois recorded its first ranked win of the spring with a 5-2 victory over No. 12 Michigan at Atkins Tennis Center on Feb. 22.

Despite dropping the first set on five singles courts, the Illini fought back to win four singles matches while claiming the doubles point for the second time this season.

Illinois secured the doubles point behind wins at No. 2 and 3. Mathis Debru and Max Mroz, teaming up for the first time this spring, were the first to finish and earned a 6-2 victory at No. 3 doubles. Kenta Miyoshi and William Mroz were not far behind at No. 2 doubles, posting a 6-4 win to take the doubles point for the Illini.

Miyoshi recorded the team's first singles win of the night with a 7-6(4), 6-3 triumph at No. 1 against No. 55 Benjamin Kittay, marking the Illini junior's third ranked win of the dual season.

Zach Viiala was the next to finish with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory at No. 6 singles, and Debru ultimately clinched the Orange and Blue's win with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory on Court 5. With the sides agreeing to play out the match, Will Mroz closed the night with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 triumph at No. 2 singles and completed the 5-2 ranked win.

MIYOSHI EARNS ITA SINGLES ALL-AMERICAN STATUS

Illinois junior Kenta Miyoshi earned ITA All-America status during his first-ever appearance at the NCAA Singles Championship, advancing to the singles third round at Baylor's Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, Texas. Miyoshi represented the Fighting Illini men's tennis program at the event, which moved from the spring to the fall for the first time.

Miyoshi picked up two straight-set ranked wins en route to securing Singles All-American honors for the first time in his career before falling in the third round on Nov. 19.