The University of Louisville men’s tennis team continues to make strides in the collegiate world, reaching a new milestone in their rankings. On Feb. 1, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association released its team rankings, with the Louisville Cardinals standing at No. 22. This marks the first time the Cardinals have appeared in the top 25 of the 2023 team rankings and their highest ranking since March 1, 2011, when they were No. 20.
The Cardinals have had a strong start to the season, with a 5-1 record, including a victory over then-No. 24 Northwestern. Their impressive start was highlighted by their performance in the ITA Kickoff Weekend, where they opened with a 4-1 win over Miami before falling to host and 15th-ranked Georgia 4-1 in the finals.
Louisville’s success is not limited to just their team ranking. Four of their singles players and two doubles teams are also making waves in the individual rankings. Sophomore Natan Rodrigues leads the way in singles, ranked at No. 25, marking the first time a Cardinal has appeared in the top 25 since 2014-15. Graduate student Fabien Salle is ranked No. 36, senior Etienne Donnet is slotted at No. 42, and senior Matthew Fung stands at No. 61.
In doubles, Salle and Rodrigues have burst into the top 10, ranked at No. 9, after appearing at No. 48 in the preseason polls. David Mizrahi and Will Mayew are also having a strong showing, ranked No. 58 after their fall season performance.
The Cardinals will look to continue their success when they host No. 5 Kentucky on Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center. With their top-25 ranking and strong individual performances, the Louisville men’s tennis team is one to watch in the 2023 season.