CHAMPAIGN, Illinois — A back-and-forth match in front of a raucous crowd ultimately fell the way of host No. 14 Illinois, as the Fighting Illini downed No. 24 Vanderbilt 4-0 in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship at the Atkins Tennis Center on Saturday.
Vanderbilt (18-13) was unable to overcome early deficits in doubles, falling at Courts 2 and 3. Illinois (24-7) continued the pressure to open singles, securing first sets at all six courts. No. 16 Kenta Miyoshi posted the first singles point after downing No. 97 Hoyoung Roh. Despite the Dores on the brink of forcing third sets at No. 1, 4 and 5 singles, the Fighting Illini shut the door with wins from No. 96 William Mroz and Jeremy Zhang.
The Commodores end their 2026 campaign after picking up their first NCAA Tournament win since 2019. Vandy has now secured an NCAA berth in two of head coach Scott Brown’s three seasons in Nashville. The team’s 18 wins are its most since notching 19 in 2018.
No. 14 Illinois 4, No. 24 Vanderbilt 0
Doubles
1. Miyoshi/Gabriel Debru [Illinois] vs. No. 13 Nathan Cox/Hoyoung [Vanderbilt] 5-6, unfinished
2. Mroz/Tyler Bowers [Illinois] def. Pablo Martinez Gomez/Callum Markowitz [Vanderbilt] 6-4
3. Zach Viiala/David Bakonyi [Illinois] def. Danil Panarin/Jack Satterfield [Vanderbilt] 6-3
Singles
1. No. 18 Debru [Illinois] vs. No. 72 Martinez Gomez [Vanderbilt] 6-4, 6-6, unfinished
2. No. 16 Miyoshi [Illinois] def. No. 97 Hoyoung [Vanderbilt] 6-1, 6-3
3. No. 96 Mroz [Illinois] def. Panarin [Vanderbilt] 6-1, 6-4
4. Adam Jilly [Illinois] vs. Cox [Vanderbilt] 7-5, 5-5, unfinished
5. Hayden Jones [Illinois] vs. Satterfield [Vanderbilt] 6-4, 4-5, unfinished
6. Zhang [Illinois] def. Donghyun Hwang [Vanderbilt] 6-3, 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (2,3,6)
