The Ohio State tennis program is making serious noise at the NCAA tournament, with both the men's and women's teams powering through the Sweet 16 and into the quarterfinals. Playing at the Auer Tennis Complex, the Buckeyes showed why they're a force to be reckoned with on the national stage.
On the men's side, Ohio State continued its dominance over Big Ten rival Illinois, defeating the No. 14 Fighting Illini on May 8 for the third time this season. The doubles point set the tone early, as the duo of Alexander Bernard and Alex Okonkwo cruised to a 6-2 win. The drama came in the second doubles match, where Brandon Carpico and Nikita Filin battled into a tiebreaker against Illinois's Gabriel Debru and Kenta Miyoshi. The Buckeyes stormed out to a 4-0 lead in the tiebreaker and sealed it 7-4 to clinch the crucial doubles point.
In singles, Ohio State was relentless, winning the first set on five of six courts. Jack Anthrop, Alexander Bernard, and Nikita Filin all posted straight-set victories, with Anthrop closing things out with a composed 6-4, 6-3 win. This marks the 18th trip to the NCAA quarterfinals for the men's program since 2004—a testament to its sustained excellence. Next up is a showdown against No. 6 TCU on May 14, a match that promises high-stakes action.
The women's team followed suit on May 9, dispatching No. 14 Vanderbilt 4-1 with a mix of precision and grit. The Buckeyes grabbed the doubles point thanks to strong performances from Audrey Spencer and Sophia Cisse-Ignatiev (6-1) and Luciana Perry and Flora Johnson (6-3). In singles, Nao Nishino and Cisse-Ignatiev won in straight sets to push the lead to 2-0, but it was Perry who stole the show, clinching the overall victory with a hard-fought three-set win in the final singles match.
This appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals is only the third in program history for the women's team, following runs in 2016 and 2017. Their next opponent is No. 11 Pepperdine, with the match date still to be announced. For fans of Buckeye tennis, this is a season to remember—and the perfect time to gear up in Ohio State apparel to cheer them on.