**Sun Devil Men's Tennis Riding Historic Start Into Showdowns vs. No.
10 San Diego, No. 25 Pepperdine**
TEMPE - Arizona State Men’s Tennis is off to a scorching start, and they’re not slowing down anytime soon. With an 8-0 record-their best start since the program’s reinstatement-the No. 24-ranked Sun Devils are heading back to the West Coast for a pair of high-stakes matchups against No.
10 San Diego and No. 25 Pepperdine.
First up: a Friday clash with the Toreros, followed by a Sunday showdown with the Waves. Both matches are set for 1 p.m.
MST.
And make no mistake: this ASU team is already making serious noise on the national stage.
Just last week, the Sun Devils pulled off a signature win, knocking off then-No. 8 San Diego 4-2 in the San Diego regional.
It wasn’t just any win-it was the Toreros’ second home loss since the start of the 2024-25 season and marked ASU’s highest-ranked victory since the program returned to competition. That result punched their ticket to the ITA Indoor National Championships and firmly planted them in the national conversation.
A Program on the Rise
ASU’s 8-0 start isn’t just impressive-it’s unprecedented in the modern era of Sun Devil tennis. For context, the team didn’t notch its eighth win last season until mid-March. This year, they’ve reached that mark before February.
Even more notable? Road wins were a major hurdle last season.
The Sun Devils went 0-7 away from home in 2024-25. This time around, they’ve already picked up a road victory-and they’re looking for more.
The team’s performance in doubles has also been a key ingredient in the early success. ASU has claimed the doubles point in six of its eight matches, setting the tone early and often.
Standouts Stepping Up
Junior Jelani Sarr has emerged as a force in singles play, leading the team with six wins. His straight-set victory over USD’s Adrien Berrut-last season’s WCC Freshman of the Year-was a statement performance and helped earn him Big 12 Player of the Week honors.
Sarr isn’t the only Sun Devil grabbing headlines. Sophomore Niels Villard took home the conference’s first weekly award of the season, giving ASU back-to-back Big 12 honors to open the year.
Scouting the Toreros
San Diego enters Friday’s rematch ranked No. 10 in the latest ITA polls. After falling to ASU in the regional final, the Toreros bounced back with a 4-1 win over Miami in the consolation match.
Last season, USD was a powerhouse, finishing 25-4 and reaching the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32. They were dominant at home, compiling a 10-1 record at the Hogan Tennis Center and outscoring opponents 45-10 in those dual matches.
The Toreros also feature a nationally ranked doubles team in Adrien Berrut and Lambert Ruland, who checked in at No. 71 in the most recent ITA doubles rankings.
What’s Next
After Friday’s rematch with San Diego, the Sun Devils will shift their focus to Sunday’s matchup with No. 25 Pepperdine. With momentum on their side and confidence at an all-time high, ASU is looking to keep the perfect season alive-and continue proving they belong among the nation’s elite.
One thing’s clear: this isn’t just a hot start. This is a team with something to prove-and the firepower to back it up.