NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt men’s tennis team begins the season with four Dores ranked in the first Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings of the 2024-25 campaign. Sophomore Danil Panarin is the lone listing in the singles rankings and is paired with junior Nathan Cox in the doubles rankings. Joining them on the doubles side is the duo of sophomore Hugo Coquelin and transfer fifth-year Henry Ruger.
Panarin begins his sophomore campaign ranked No. 22 in singles. Hailing from Moscow, Russia, Panarin picked up 14 singles wins in his debut season, including four nationally ranked victories, after not competing in fall. To cap off his freshman campaign at Vanderbilt, Panarin was named the 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year. He is the Dores’ first solo winner and second in program history since Ryan Lipman, who was a co-recipient of the award in the 2009-10 season.
Cox and Panarin have yet to take the court as a doubles team together, with Cox coming off a season primarily paired with Jeremie Casabon. That duo racked up 20 wins and reached a high doubles ranking of No. 40 last season, Cox’s career-best mark. This included winning the ITA Ohio Valley Regional Doubles Championship and a top-16 finish at the ITA National Fall Championship. Albeit a new pairing for both players, Cox and Panarin open the year ranked No. 43 in the doubles rankings.
Coquelin and Ruger each earn their first collegiate ranking, starting the season at No. 86 in doubles. Coquelin joined the team in January, and like Panarin, did not compete in the fall season. However, he still racked up 18 total wins in his freshman year, including a match-clinching doubles victory to secure a 4-3 upset over No. 21 Auburn. Ruger is a transfer from Columbia who brings a multitude of experience to Vanderbilt this season. He earned 95 total wins in his career with the Lions, posting an 18-6 doubles mark last year as a senior. The season was highlighted by ranked wins against No. 13 Harvard, No. 15 Duke, and No. 21 Alabama. Ruger’s efforts helped Columbia advance to an NCAA Elite 8 for the first time in program history.
