On Court 4 of the U Open grounds, Matt Forbes exuded the kind of confidence and charisma that defines his game. Picture this: a powerful "venga" echoing across the court after a blistering forehand winner that leaves opponents frozen, followed by a triumphant "yeah" as he unleashes a supersonic serve straight down the T. Now, as a sophomore at Michigan State, he adds a spirited "Go Green" after sealing victories at the NCAA Singles Championship.
Before he even set foot in East Lansing, Forbes was already making waves for the Spartans. As the 2024 USTA Boys’ 18s National Champion, he earned a spot in the US Open men's draw, becoming the first active Spartan to compete at Flushing Meadows.
Reflecting on his experience, Forbes shared, “I think that was probably the best thing that's happened to me,” when recalling his 2024 US Open first-round match against Roman Safiulin.
Armed with powerful groundstrokes and emphatic grunts, the 18-year-old Forbes pushed the former world No. 36 to a second set tie-break in the intense New York City heat, before ultimately falling in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6(2), 6-2.