Princeton University men’s tennis is entering a new season on the strength of a solid 2024 campaign. The Tigers finished the year ranked No. 35 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) standings, posted a 22-9 record, and went 10-2 at home, capped by a bid to the NCAA Championships.
Head coach Pate expressed enthusiasm about the incoming slate, saying, “We are incredibly excited to begin the season and we look forward to a very competitive slate of matches, both home and away. Our players feel we have a great opportunity to challenge the top players and teams in the country while making additional strides on our success the last few years. It’s encouraging to know we are returning all of our singles starters, along with the return of a senior who was sidelined with an injury last year.”
Schedule notes paint a busy road ahead. The Tigers will open the season at the ITA All-Americans in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from September 20-28. Princeton will host ITA Regionals at the Racquet Center on Meadows Campus from October 16-20 and will welcome back its Farnsworth Invitational, set for October 31-November 2. The NCAA Individual Championships are scheduled for November 18-23 in Lake Nona, Florida, marking the second fall edition of the tournament.
Looking ahead to the spring, Princeton’s slate opens on the road against Boise State on January 17, 2026. The Tigers will play Miami on the first day of ITA Kickoff Weekend, then face either the University of San Diego or Arizona State on day two. Back at home, Princeton will host Oklahoma State on January 30 for the spring opener. The ECAC Tournament comes to town February 13-15, followed by four home matches against Buffalo, Penn State, George Town and Lehigh. A Pepperdine matchup is on the schedule before trips to Memphis and USD in San Diego on March 12 and 14, respectively. Ivy League play begins March 28 at Penn, with a road trip to Harvard to follow. Cornell will visit Princeton for the first home conference match on April 10, and Princeton will travel to Columbia on April 12 to close the regular-season league slate. The NCAA Tournament begins May 1 with Regionals, followed by Super Regionals on May 8-9 and the Finals May 14-17.
On the court, Princeton has already seen notable achievements. Inchauspe became Princeton’s fifth All-American in program history after defeating Sebastian Gornzy of Texas at the NCAA Individual Championships and was named to the Ivy League First Team in both singles and doubles. Nidunjianzan qualified for his first NCAA Championships in the 2024-25 season and earned Ivy League First Team honors for singles (third consecutive year) and Second Team for doubles. Short enjoyed a breakout season, earning his first career Ivy League honors on the Second Team for both singles and doubles.
Fans can follow the Tigers on social media at @ptonmenstennis on X (formerly Twitter) and @Princetonmenstennis on Instagram for updates, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content.
Key takeaways
– Princeton is entering the season buoyed by a top-tier finish, returning all singles starters, and bringing back a key senior from injury.
– The schedule features a strong mix of fall and spring events, including ITA championships, regionals, and several high-profile non-conference matchups.
– Notable players to watch include Inchauspe, Nidunjianzan, and Short, all of whom have earned All-American and Ivy League honors in recent seasons, signaling depth and leadership across the lineup.
Optional commentary
– The combination of a deep returning lineup and a robust fall-to-spring schedule should help Princeton challenge top national programs and pursue deeper runs in the NCAA Tournament.
– The fall NCAA Individual Championships and the fall-to-spring transition present opportunities for early assessments of the team’s chemistry and adjustments that could pay dividends in conference play and postseason play.
Positive outlook
– With a strong home-game footprint on the schedule and the experience of All-America-caliber players, Princeton appears positioned to build on last season’s momentum and push toward higher national rankings and playoff success.