Athens, Ga. – The top-ranked Texas Men’s Tennis team secured a spot in the NCAA National Championship Match with a thrilling 4-3 victory over the No. 2 seed TCU on Saturday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. This achievement marks the Longhorns’ second appearance in the finals in three years and the fourth overall in the program’s history (2008, 2019, 2024).
Next up, Texas will compete against the No. 5 seed Virginia on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT. Earlier this year, the two teams faced off in Austin, where Virginia emerged victorious with a 4-1 win. Both Texas and Virginia have made three final appearances in the past seven years. The Longhorns now sport a 29-6 record this season, tying the 2025 and 2019 teams for the most wins in a single season since 1975 when a shorter schedule was introduced.
After TCU captured the doubles point with victories at the first two positions, Texas evened the match with a win by sophomore Oliver Ojakaar at No. 4. TCU took the lead again with a victory at No. 6, but Texas responded with a win from sophomore Sebastian Eriksson at No. 3. The competition remained tight as TCU won at No. 5, but Texas answered with Kalin Ivanovski’s win in a third-set tiebreaker at No. 2, leading to a decisive match at No. 1 where senior Sebastian Gorzny overcame five match points in the second set to clinch the victory.
Head coach Bruce Berque expressed pride in his team’s resilience, highlighting their determination against a strong TCU team, especially noting Gorzny’s composure in the face of multiple match points and Ivanovski’s impressive performance. “Winning singles courts 1, 2, 3, and 4 against TCU is no small feat, and I’m extremely proud of our team,” he said.
The matches unfolded with Ojakaar defeating Oliver Bonding decisively at No. 4. Following Lucas Marionneau’s loss at No. 6, Eriksson’s win at No. 3 drew the teams even. However, TCU regained the lead as Abel Forger fell to Albert Pedrico. Ultimately, Ivanovski delivered a crucial win at No. 2, forcing a tiebreaker where he ultimately triumphed, setting the stage for Gorzny’s clinching match.
Gorzny had to fend off five match points in the second set but managed to secure a break early in the third set, securing the final point of the match as his teammates rushed to celebrate. In his own words, Gorzny acknowledged his earlier struggles but emphasized the importance of perseverance. “I thought if I kept giving myself chances, one had to come, and luckily it did at the last moment,” he stated.
In the doubles matches, Texas faced a tough challenge, losing the opening court but evening the score across other courts. The overall intensity of the match highlighted the competitive spirit and determination of both teams, culminating in a well-deserved triumph for Texas.
