With another promising season around the corner, the eyes are on Illinois men’s tennis, which prepares for an exciting and challenging season ahead. With high expectations and a talented roster, the Illini are all set to kick off 2024.
The newcomer, freshman Jeremy Zhang, has displayed flashes of excellence with the team already. Originally from Sydney, Australia, he has quickly adapted to Big Ten tennis and will be a key player to look out for during his first season. Throughout the fall tournaments, he showcased a strong competitive spirit and contributed big victories, such as at the Bobby Bayliss Invitational at Notre Dame.
Big Ten Player of the Week, junior Karlis Ozolins, put on a show at the Gamecock Kickoff. He won his singles matches in straight sets, handily defeating Georgia’s Thomas Paulsell. This performance is nothing new for Ozolins, who, paired with senior Hunter Heck, has reached a career-high doubles ranking of 23.
The 2023 All-American Heck has one last shot to lead his team to the Big Ten tournament. Alongside Ozolins, the power duo went far last season with an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA doubles championship. As a freshman, Illinois won the 2020-21 Big Ten tournament and now it is Heck’s turn to return the favor.
Seniors Oliver Okonkwo and Lucas Horve are entering their sixth and final years. With this year being Okonkwo’s first year competing at Illinois, he spent his previous time at Iowa and is originally from the United Kingdom. On the other hand, Horve is from Forsythe, Illinois, and has been with the program since freshman year. He aims to display the Illini tradition and instill it within the underclassmen of the roster. As the oldest players on the team, their experience on and off the court should give this hungry Illinois team the push it needs to place high in the Big Ten.
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Last season, Illinois had a difficult time against Ohio State — against the recruits as well as a depth-filled roster. The Illini are itching to prove they are an elite team that can compete against the other great programs in the conference. The matches against strong rivals such as Michigan and Ohio State will display the grit of the squad.
Head coach Brad Dancer recently hired assistant coach Zeke Clark heading into the 2023-24 season. Clark, a former player, was the 16th Illini to win 100 singles matches and had a prolific career at Illinois for five years. After graduating, he was in the top 500 in the world for singles and the top 250 for doubles. With his experience coming from success within the program, he undoubtedly serves as a qualified mentor to guide the current players to victory this season.
The loyal tennis fans are looking forward to the kickoff of another season. The Atkins Tennis Center is ready to host the fans and players’ electric energy. With the mix of newcomers as well as depth through veterans, the Illini are ready to show their worth and make history this season.
