Northwestern's men's tennis team, ranked No. 66, heads to Los Angeles for two significant matchups against No. 28 USC and No. 24 UCLA. The Wildcats (15-10, 3-7 Big Ten) are coming off a strong weekend, having swept Purdue 4-0 and defeated No. 62 Indiana 4-3. Junior Cyrus Mahjoob earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors for his performance, which included clinching both matches. Northwestern is aiming for their first wins over USC and UCLA this season after previously struggling against them.

By the Numbers
  • Northwestern has 15 wins, the third-most in the Big Ten, surpassing 10 wins in 2023 and 12 in 2024.
  • Junior Greyson Casey and sophomore Carter Pate are ranked No. 18 nationally in doubles, boasting an undefeated record of 17-0.
State of Play
  • Northwestern seeks its first victory against USC after losing all previous six encounters.
  • UCLA, having lost to Ohio State 4-0 recently, presents another tough challenge, particularly with three ranked singles players.
What's Next

If successful this weekend, the Wildcats would achieve their first wins against ranked opponents since early 2024. Additionally, they will look to carry momentum into their last regular-season match against No. 14 Illinois.

Bottom Line

Northwestern's ability to secure wins this weekend could significantly boost their confidence and standings ahead of the postseason, marking a critical point in the team's journey to redemption against historically challenging opponents.