Mississippi State Men’s Tennis to Open at ITA Indoor Championships Against Florida

Mississippi State men’s tennis, ranked sixth nationally, is set to open the ITA National Team Indoor Championship against No. 23 Florida on Friday in Dallas. The 16-team tournament runs from Feb. 13-17 at sites in Dallas and Waco, Texas.

The event features top programs competing in a single-elimination format, with winners advancing to the quarterfinals and remaining teams playing consolation matches. The tournament offers an early look at the national championship race, with a format similar to the NCAA Tournament, according to the ITA.

Mississippi State enters the tournament with a 4-0 dual-match record this season. The Bulldogs recently defeated No. 24 Illinois, marking their first ranked victory of 2026. They also boast four players ranked in singles, led by Petar Jovanovic at No. 6, and the doubles team of Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez at No. 6 nationally.

Florida brings a veteran lineup, with four singles players ranked, including No. 32 Pablo Perez Ramos and No. 43 Jeremy Jin. The Gators also feature a top-10 doubles team of Henry Jefferson and Tanapatt Nirundorn.

The winner of the Mississippi State-Florida match will face the victor of No. 16 Clemson versus No. 1 Virginia in the quarterfinals. Both teams are guaranteed at least three matches during the week through the tournament’s consolation bracket, the ITA said.

Mississippi State last competed in this event in 2019, finishing with a 1-2 record. The Bulldogs are led by head coach Matt Roberts, who has 218 career wins, second all-time at Mississippi State. Senior Petar Jovanovic has 183 career wins and is among the program’s top doubles players.

Source: Original Article