Top-ranked Trevor Svajda headlines SMU men’s tennis as the Mustangs host Abilene Christian, Oral Roberts and UTSA in Dallas.
DALLAS - SMU men’s tennis is coming home with something it hasn’t had in a while - the No. 1 singles player in the country.
Trevor Svajda, now atop the ITA national rankings as of Feb. 19, returns to the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex riding an 8-0 spring record without dropping a single set.
The Mustangs (5-5) will need it as they host Abilene Christian on Saturday before a Sunday doubleheader against Oral Roberts and UTSA.
Svajda didn’t just pad his resume against mid-majors. At the ITA National Team Indoor Championship, he went 3-0 in singles, taking down Ohio State’s No. 13 Aidan Kim and Florida’s No. 54 Adhitya Ganesan.
He’s now stacked four ranked wins this spring alone and has beaten seven players who finished in the final ITA fall rankings. SMU hasn’t had this kind of national singles buzz since the 1980s.
The Mustangs nearly shocked No. 2 Ohio State at ITA Indoors, falling 4-3 in a tiebreaker on the deciding court. Still, SMU secured a signature win over No. 22 Arizona State - its highest-ranked victory since 2023 and its first ITA Indoor match win since 2000.
Alex Finkelstein has added depth, climbing to No. 96 in singles while teaming with Svajda for a No. 46 doubles ranking.
The duo earned a statement doubles win over Ohio State’s seventh-ranked pair Alex Okonkwo and Alexander Bernard. Meanwhile, Jerry Barton is quietly on a 7-1 run, winning his last four singles matches.
Historically, SMU has owned these matchups. The Mustangs are 12-1 all-time against Abilene Christian, 10-2 versus UTSA and a perfect 7-0 against Oral Roberts.
But this weekend isn’t just about history. It’s about momentum.
With conference play looming, SMU men’s tennis is sharpening its edge ... and with the nation’s top singles player leading the charge, the Mustangs suddenly look like more than just a tough out.