Three SMU stars earn wild cards, ready to challenge elite pros at The Star in Frisco. Center court awaits as they chase main draw dreams.
DALLAS - SMU men’s tennis is stepping onto one of the sport’s biggest local stages this weekend, and three Mustangs will do it under the brightest lights available.
Krish Arora, Alex Finkelstein, and Georgi Georgiev have each received singles qualifying wild cards to the Nexo Dallas Open, giving the program a rare opportunity to compete head-to-head with elite professional talent.
All three SMU players will take the court Saturday at The Star in Frisco, with every match scheduled on center court. For college athletes, that setting alone is a milestone. For the Mustangs, it’s also a chance to turn opportunity into momentum.
Finkelstein will officially launch the tournament, opening the day at 10 a.m. CT against Tristan Boyer, the No. 7 seed in the qualifying draw. From there, the challenge escalates.
Georgiev is matched up with No. 2 seed Zachary Svajda, a rising American who brings additional intrigue to the matchup. Svajda is the older brother of Trevor Svajda, who has already secured a wild-card spot in the tournament’s main draw.
Arora will close out the Mustangs’ trio of matches, squaring off with No. 6 seed Bernard Tomic, a former top-20 ATP player whose resume includes deep runs at Grand Slams.
For Arora, the matchup represents a valuable measuring stick against a player with years of experience at the highest level of the sport.
The center-court slate continues beyond the SMU matches, with Rafael Jodar facing Mitchell Krueger, but the spotlight will firmly remain on the Mustangs early. A win in qualifying would move any of the three closer to joining Trevor Svajda in the singles main draw, an outcome that would mark a significant achievement for the program.
The Nexo Dallas Open also brings fan appeal beyond the competitive matches.
Tickets are available now, including premium seating and weeklong passes. Saturday’s schedule is highlighted by the "All American Classic," featuring tennis legends John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, John Isner, and Sam Querrey.
For SMU, though, Saturday is about more than names. It’s about showing that Mustang tennis belongs on a professional stage.