MSU’s Max Sheldon Named Big Ten Men’s Tennis Player of the Week
Senior earns first career B1G weekly accolade.
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State men's tennis senior Max Sheldon was named Big Ten Men's Tennis Player of the Week, for his outstanding performance in pre-qualifying at the ITA All-American Championships, announced by the conference office Wednesday afternoon.Sheldon went 5-0 in singles action over the first four days of the ITA All-American Championships to qualify for the Main Draw. He is one of five players who started out in Pre-Qualifying and made it to the Main Draw at the ITA-All American Championships, and the only one from the Big Ten to do so.
Notable plays from this tournament include two tough three-set wins over seeded players, including rallying from a set down vs. conference rival and 13th-seeded Christopher Li of Ohio State (4-6, 6-2, 6-2), one of the three matches that he rallied from down a set for the win.
Sheldon defeated four other ranked players, including Connor Gannon of Memphis, who was seeded 17-32, along with No. 96 Alexander Hoogmartens of UCLA, No. 1,216 Gabriele Brancatelli of Georgia Tech and No. 1851 William Mroz of Illinois ranked 1851.
He also teamed up with freshman Matthew Forbes in doubles action and posting a doubles win over 60th-ranked doubles team of Gus Tettamble and Timothy Carlsson Seger on Tulsa's home court.
This is Sheldon's first Player of the Week award of his career and Michigan State's first since junior Ozan Baris on April 3 of last season.
Sheldon joins teammate Baris (April 3, 2024; April 19, 2023) and Ronald Hohmann III (Feb. 28, 2024) in receiving B1G Player of the Week accolades in the past two seasons.
A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Sheldon also earned first-team All-Big Ten accolades in 2023.
Sheldon will continue his journey in the final rounds of the ITA All-Americans this weekend, including winning earlier Wednesday afternoon to advance to round of 32.
Up next, the Spartans will travel to the Milwaukee Tennis Classic from Sept 27-29.
Release courtesy of MSU Athletics.
Spartan Men’s Tennis In Action At Milwaukee Tennis Classic This Weekend
Two MSU players playing this weekend in singles and doubles.
East Lansing, Mich. – Two members of Michigan State's men's tennis team will be heading to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the Milwaukee Tennis Classic Friday-Sunday, Sept 27-29.While some of their teammates are still in action in the ITA All-Americans in Tulsa, Okla., two Spartans are heading to Wisconsin. Senior Josh Portnoy and freshman Mitchell Sheldon will each be competing in singles action and will team up for double matches this weekend.
Sheldon is looking for a great start in his first season at Michigan State while Portnoy is striving to make his last year as a Spartan one to remember.
Tournament format is a draw of 32 for men's singles play. The doubles format is a draw of 16.
Match play starts Friday morning with a first round of singles main draw, double main draw and consolation single round.
Play continues on Saturday with quarterfinals and semifinals for both single and double matches.
Sunday, the Spartans are hoping for a chance to take home the trophy in the finals and start out the fall season good.
After this tournament, the Spartans will head back home and prepare for the M15 Ann Arbor tournament on Sept 30-Oct 3.
Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.
