EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State – Freshmen in Men’s Tennis Matthew Forbes will open the main draw of the 2024 US Open on Tuesday, August 27, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, the US Open announced Friday.
Forbes is the first Spartan to qualify for the tournament and will face Russian Roman Safiullin in his first match, the US Open draw announced.
“It means a lot to me to play in the US Open as a Spartan and be the first Michigan State player to play there, especially since I believe I’m one of only four college players in the main draw,” Forbes said. “I think it means a lot for the program and recruiting, it’s going to be young guys seeing the Spartan logo and our coaches in Spartan gear, and hopefully for years to come, and that’s going to be great for our program.”
The Spartan earned the wildcard by winning the singles title at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Boys Under-18 National Championships on August 11 at Kalamazoo College’s Stowe Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
“It’s great to have Matthew in the main draw of the US Open. He’s the first from our program and not many college programs can say they have a player in the main draw of the US Open,” said assistant coach Kazuki Matsuno he told the media on Thursday. “It’s huge for us and great advertising for us because he’ll be wearing Spartan gear there, so people will see Spartan colors there, which is great for our tennis program and for Michigan State University.”
Forbes began his match in the round of 32 of the 18U tournament on August 7, defeating Braeden Gelletich 6-3, 6-0. He then beat Penn freshman Sanjeev Chundu 6-0, 6-3 in the round of 16 before earning a three-set victory (6-2, 2-6, 6-4) over Ohio State freshman Nikita Filin in the quarterfinals.
With a dominant 6-2, 6-1 win over TCU freshman Cooper Woestendick on Aug. 10, Forbes reached the final against 16-year-old Jack Kennedy. Forbes secured the title with a 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory in four sets on Sunday.
Forbes, a high-profile recruit from TennisRecruiting.net, signed a national letter of intent with the Spartans in July. The Raleigh, North Carolina native has his highest junior ranking to date at No. 34 with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and is ranked No. 6 in the class of 2024.
Forbes will be accompanied to New York by the head coach of the MSU men’s tennis team Harry JadunCoach Matsuno and other members of the Spartan coaching staff, along with his hitting partner, Junior Ozan Baris.
