For the Tufts men’s tennis team, the goal has never been in question: Win the elusive NESCAC Championship and make a deep run at nationals. After reaching a quarterfinal — or better — finish in their last three NCAA Tournament appearances and climbing steadily in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, the Jumbos enter the 2025 spring season ranked No. 3 in the nation. With a talented roster, the Tufts men’s tennis team is looking to take the final step toward championship glory.
Steady at the helm: Team thrives under Gregor
Head coach Karl Gregor has built a program that thrives on depth, discipline and resilience. The team opened its season with a dominant 7–0 win over No. 25 Babson, showcasing the depth and consistency that has defined its success in recent years. With talent stacked at every position, the Jumbos have the firepower to compete with the best.
Juniors ready to shine
After leading the team with 20 victories as a sophomore, junior Javier Gonzalez is locked in on refining his game. He identified a greater net presence and an improved mental game as the biggest factors.
“Learning how to approach [the net] and be a bit more aggressive on this side is going to help me a lot this season,” Gonzalez said. “I try to not focus so much on the result and focus a bit more on personal growth because I know that in the long term, this is going to help the team more.”
Junior Sacha Maes has also been a key contributor, bringing experience and stability to the court.
“I’ve been focusing a lot on my footwork and how I’m transferring my body weight through the shot,” Maes said.
Working closely with assistant coach Adham Gaber, he has sharpened his forehand — a shot that was once a weakness. As he looks ahead to his senior year, Maes embraces his leadership role, emphasizing that everyone’s energy impacts the group regardless of class year.
Junior Andrej Djokic plays a unique dual role for the Tufts men’s tennis team — a key competitor and the team’s stringing technician. Responsible for stringing 10 to 15 rackets weekly for both the men’s and women’s teams, Djokic understands the fine details that influence performance.
“[String tension] plays a huge part on the tennis court,” he explained, saying that string tension varies by player and according to court conditions.
“This is the season where we get the title,” he said confidently, embracing the team’s championship ambitions.
Junior Aarush Ganji looks forward to key rivalry matchups.
“We have a long history with Middlebury, and though we went pretty far in the national tournament, we’ve never won NESCACs,” Ganji said. He mentioned Middlebury, Bowdoin and Claremont-McKenna-Scripps as teams that Tufts is hoping to take down this year.
With experience, composure and a hunger to win, the juniors are the engine driving the Tufts men’s tennis team forward.
New year, new me: The sophomore class evolves
After tallying 17 singles wins as a first-year, Garv Bahl is ready to elevate his game in his sophomore year, both on and off the court.
“Off the court, I can see myself helping the freshmen understand the demands of the team,” Bahl said. “On the court, I’m hoping to play in the same position or maybe higher than I did last year.”
This season, sophomore Takehiro Shuda is looking to take on a bigger role. After picking up four wins as a freshman, he’s worked hard to improve his mental game and handle pressure better.
“Being able to really calm myself down during certain points, that’s something I really struggled with freshman year and sophomore year; I’m definitely focusing a lot more on that,” Shuda said.
For sophomore Davide Mirza, this season is all about breaking into the lineup.
“I’m not really a starter, so I can focus more on the matches in the fall,” Mirza said. He mentioned that frequent practice matches were helpful, and that he stayed in Boston this summer, playing in tournaments to sharpen his game.
With a deep roster and fierce competition for playing time, these sophomores are eager to prove themselves.
The last dance: Seniors eye a historic finish
If there’s one player the Tufts men’s tennis team is counting on, it’s Vuk Vuksanovic. Coming off an ITA New England Regional Championship title in the fall and a 14-win junior season at No. 1 singles, his powerful baseline game and relentless mentality make him the spearhead of the team’s championship aspirations.
“There’s a lot of things I want to accomplish … but the main goal is to do something that we’ve never done before, which is to win the NESCAC and hopefully after that, win the nationals,” Vuksanovic said. More than talent, he values culture and accountability, ensuring the team competes with relentless hunger.
Senior Lachie Macintosh has evolved since his early days with the team. Initially, he saw himself as a clean, aggressive ball-striker, but over time, he discovered that his true strength lies in his ability to grind out points and wear down opponents.
“I found that I’m not what I used to think — a counterpuncher, someone that takes the ball early, has clean strokes and plays nice tennis,” Macintosh said. “I'm more of a grinder, some people could say. I make the points tough, make it physical.”
For senior Derin Acaroglu, this season is about unfinished business. After years of deep postseason runs, he knows the final step is the hardest — but also the most important.
“Last year’s loss in the final really hurt me because I felt like we were so close,” Acaroglu said. “This year, above anything else, I really want the conference title … we have the talent to do it … once we get there, it’s about converting.”
With unwavering determination, the seniors are leading the charge toward history.
Earned, not given: The NESCAC battle begins
With the NESCAC season approaching, the Jumbos know that every match will be a battle. Over spring break, the team will travel to California for key matchups, including a showdown with the Claremont Five. As another exciting season unfolds, only one thing is certain: This team is poised for something special.
