The No. 2 Tufts men’s tennis team delivered a statement win Saturday, dismantling longtime rival No. 12 Middlebury 6–1 in a clash brimming with postseason intensity. Fueled by relentless baseline precision and clinical doubles execution, the Jumbos avenged years of NESCAC heartbreak against the Panthers, sweeping all three doubles matches before securing decisive singles victories.
A dominant start in doubles
The Jumbos wasted no time asserting their dominance, sweeping all three doubles courts. Senior Derin Acaroglu reflected on the team’s strong doubles play, noting how it set the tone for the rest of the day.
“I think we played amazing in doubles on all three courts,” Acaroglu said. “That obviously helped us get momentum into singles.”
Assistant coach Adham Gaber’s words during the pre-singles huddle also proved pivotal. According to senior Vuk Vuksanovic, Gaber urged the team to capitalize on Middlebury’s lackluster energy.
“After doubles, we realized Middlebury came today with very weak energy. They didn’t really want it.”
Singles play: a showcase of mental and physical resilience
The singles matches were a masterclass in mental toughness, with the Jumbos showcasing their ability to handle high-pressure moments against top-tier opponents. Senior Lachie Macintosh, who clinched his match with a combination of discipline and defense, emphasized the importance of sticking to his game plan.
“I committed well to my game plan, which was to be conservative with points,” Macintosh said. “I was there and I was ready to battle out in a long match if need be.”
For Vuksanovic, the high-energy environment fueled his performance. Playing in front of a lively home crowd during alumni weekend, he described his match as a blur of focus and intensity.
“I didn’t care about what was happening around [me]. … A lot of familiar faces in the crowd definitely brought the energy up and gave us the motivation to play even better,” Vuksanovic said.
Javier Gonzalez: lessons in resilience
While the team celebrated a dominant win over Middlebury, junior Javier Gonzalez provided a thoughtful perspective on personal growth following his singles loss. Despite a strong start in his match, Gonzalez acknowledged that he struggled to maintain control when his opponent began to mount a comeback.
“I was playing great. I was taking mostly control of every point. I was dominating the match. It got to a point that I was 4–0 up, but then he [had] a big push,” Gonzalez said. “And I was not up to the task.”
“I started feeling a bit more shaky. He started getting a bit more in my head,” Gonzalez admitted. “[He was] just reaching every ball. He wasn't really missing … so, of course, I started to miss more.”
Looking ahead, Gonzalez is determined to learn from this experience and apply those lessons in future matches.
“I’m proud of … the way I started,” he said. “I started really well, I put a lot of pressure [on my opponent].”
“As long as I do whatever I feel is right or whatever is right … I’ll be more satisfied than how I’m feeling today,” Gonzalez said.
Ganchev: championship mindset
Junior Alex Ganchev, who delivered a dominant victory, credited his unshakable mentality for his performance. Known among his teammates as “Goggins” for his mental fortitude, Ganchev explained how he developed this mindset.
“I respect and appreciate David Goggins a lot. … Our coach, Karl Gregor, he gave us the ‘Can’t Hurt Me’ book. … It completely changed my perspective on what mental strength is, and … how much more untapped capacity we have as human beings. And he kind of lays the path to achieving this potential,” Ganchev said.
After not playing much this past year, Ganchev’s mentality has helped him get back on the court and perform.
“I haven’t had that many matches this year, but I guess my main focus should be to stay aggressive. … I’m a player who feels very comfortable when I’m dominating,” Ganchev said. “We’ve been working a lot during the off-season on our physical preparation. … I think the little details that we’ve been focusing on have been helping a lot during the season.”
Building momentum for the postseason
This victory over Middlebury not only adds to Tufts’ momentum but also serves as a reminder of how far the program has come. Vuksanovic reflected on the team’s growth over the past few seasons, citing resilience and camaraderie as key factors.
“In the last three or four years, this team has been through a lot … we’ve built such a great group of guys,” Vuksanovic said. “But if you look at the last three years, we actually have a positive record against [Middlebury], so there’s definitely momentum.”
The team’s preparation also played a crucial role in their victory. Vuksanovic revealed that Tufts’ coaching staff had organized multiple film study sessions to identify Middlebury’s weaknesses, particularly in doubles.
“I knew what [kind of] game style I wanted to bring in here,” he said. “We play on slower courts, so I knew, from the beginning, what kind of game style I wanted to play.”
Eyes on the NCAA crown
Acaroglu summed up the team’s mindset moving forward.
“It’s a very big difference between regular season play and NCAAs. I think anyone can really win in NCAAs. The pressure is higher,” Acaroglu said. “Beating these guys here today gives us a lot of confidence, because we know we can beat them. … We’ve beaten a big team before, and if we beat them now, why can't we beat them again? So I’m excited for that.”
