The Mustangs dominate UTRGV, showcasing lineup depth and surging momentum before facing No. 4 TCU in a massive rivalry showdown.
SMU men’s tennis delivered a confident performance Friday afternoon, taking care of business with a 5-2 victory over UTRGV at the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex.
The Mustangs set the tone early, locking up the match quickly before using the remaining singles contests to gain valuable reps and lineup flexibility.
The day belonged to the SMU Mustangs, who wasted little time asserting control. By claiming the doubles point and winning three straight singles matches, SMU raced out to an insurmountable 4-0 lead, effectively sealing the result before the match reached its final courts.
Alex Finkelstein was nearly flawless from start to finish. He dropped just one game across both doubles and singles play, showcasing his form with a dominant straight-set shutout in singles.
His chemistry with Krish Arora in doubles paid immediate dividends, as the pair cruised to a convincing win that helped SMU grab early momentum.
The Mustangs also leaned into experimentation, unveiling new doubles combinations and adjusting their lineup.
With Trevor Svajda and Georgi Georgiev absent, SMU still found rhythm and balance, a promising sign as the season progresses. Freshman Matthew Faraci made his dual-match singles debut, while Alex Stafford saw his first doubles action of the year, adding depth and experience to the roster.
After SMU secured the doubles point, the singles courts followed a similar script. Finkelstein set the pace with his dominant performance, Jerry Barton extended the lead with a composed win, and Arora clinched the match by handling business in straight sets.
The early clinch allowed SMU to manage the rest of the afternoon without pressure, even as UTRGV picked up a pair of late points.
Noah McDonald closed the day on a high note for the Mustangs, battling through a tightly contested match to secure the fifth point. His resilience capped a performance that highlighted SMU’s balance, depth, and competitiveness across the lineup.
Beyond the win itself, the match served as an important tune-up. SMU demonstrated it can adapt its lineup, lean on emerging contributors, and still control a match—traits that matter as competition stiffens.
The Mustangs won’t have long to enjoy the result.
Up next is a marquee home matchup against the TCU Horned Frogs, currently ranked No. 4 nationally.
Saturday’s showdown at 1 p.m. CT promises to be an early-season measuring stick, as SMU looks to carry Friday’s momentum into one of its biggest tests of the year.