Baylor Men’s Tennis Set for Showdown with Undefeated Texas A&M
WACO, Texas - Monday night under the lights at the Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center, No. 19 Baylor men’s tennis will have a prime opportunity to bounce back - and it won’t come easy.
The Bears are set to host No. 8 Texas A&M at 6 p.m.
CT in what’s shaping up to be a high-stakes in-state clash.
Baylor (4-2) comes into the matchup looking to reset after a tough road loss to No. 5 TCU last Thursday, a match that snapped their four-match win streak.
Despite the team loss, there was a bright spot in Fort Worth: Zsombor Velcz, ranked No. 106 nationally, pulled off a strong straight-sets win over No. 49 Rolland De Ravel, 6-3, 6-2.
That kind of result speaks volumes about Velcz’s form heading into a pivotal home stand.
Texas A&M (6-0), meanwhile, is riding a wave of momentum. The Aggies are undefeated on the season and have strung together back-to-back wins over top-20 opponents - a 4-2 victory over No.
18 Duke and a 4-1 statement against No. 20 Florida State.
This group is battle-tested and brimming with confidence.
When it comes to rankings, the Aggies bring a bit of star power in singles with No. 42 Theo Papamalamis leading the charge. In doubles, their top duo of Khololwam Montsi and Alexander Frusina is currently slotted at No. 33 in the nation.
But Baylor isn’t lacking in firepower either. The Bears boast a deep singles lineup with four nationally ranked players: No.
17 Devin Badenhorst, No. 41 Connor Van Schalkwyk, No.
99 Alexandru Chirita, and Velcz at No. 106.
That kind of depth gives Baylor options and flexibility - something that could come in handy against a Texas A&M team that’s been rolling. In doubles, the pairing of Velcz and Van Schalkwyk is ranked No. 38, giving Baylor a solid anchor in the doubles point.
Historically, this rivalry has leaned in Baylor’s favor. Since 2000, the Bears hold a 22-11 advantage in the series.
But the last time these two met, it was the Aggies who edged out a 4-3 win in a match that went down to the wire. You can bet Baylor hasn’t forgotten that one - and Monday night could be a chance to even the score.
Fans making their way to Hawkins Indoor can expect more than just high-level tennis. Free t-shirts, food, and drinks will be available to those in attendance, adding to the energy of what’s sure to be a charged atmosphere.
Looking ahead, this won’t be the last time the Aggies visit Waco this month. Texas A&M will return next week as one of 16 teams competing in the ITA National Indoor Championships - a major event that will bring some of the best programs in the country to town.
But first, all eyes are on Monday night. Baylor has a chance to make a statement, defend its home court, and hand Texas A&M its first loss of the season. With ranked talent on both sides and a bit of history between them, this one has all the makings of a classic.