The Mustangs grab a doubles point and three straight-set singles wins as Trevor Svajda stays perfect in 4-0 ACC opener.
SMU men’s tennis wasted no time making noise in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Mustangs traveled to Virginia Tech on Friday and walked away with a decisive 4-0 victory, opening their ACC schedule with a statement road win.
While the final score looks comfortable, SMU had to grind through tricky conditions and tight moments to earn its ninth win of the season.
It started in doubles. Trevor Svajda and Jerry Barton jumped on their opponents early at the No. 2 line, racing to a 5-0 lead before sealing a 6-2 win.
The doubles point ultimately hinged on court three, where Georgi Georgiev and Vikas Deo battled through a tense tiebreaker to clinch it 7-6(3).
That momentum swing proved critical. From there, SMU’s singles depth took over.
Georgiev stayed red-hot, earning his fourth consecutive straight-set victory with a 6-2, 6-4 win. Noah McDonald followed by controlling his match 6-4, 6-3, pushing the Mustangs to the brink. Then came the finisher.
Top-ranked Trevor Svajda closed the door on court one, defeating Ilyas Fahim 7-5, 6-4 to secure the sweep.
Svajda remains flawless this spring at 10-0 in singles, and remarkably, he hasn’t dropped a single set all season.
The win moves SMU to 9-5 overall and gives head coach Grant Chen’s squad early traction in what’s shaping up to be a rugged ACC campaign. With wind and shifting conditions in Blacksburg testing their focus, the Mustangs showed resilience that will be essential moving forward.
Up next? A massive challenge against No. 2 Virginia.
If SMU men’s tennis can carry this form into Charlottesville, the Mustangs may prove they’re more than just competitive in the ACC ... they’re contenders.