News Summary
In a stunning upset, No. 12 Mississippi State defeated No. 6 Ohio State 4-2 in the NCAA Men’s Tennis Super Regional, securing their place in the quarterfinals. Despite losing the doubles point, the Bulldogs mounted a comeback led by key singles victories, including clinching matches by Petar Jovanovic and Dusan Milanovic. This match marked Ohio State’s first home loss in 41 NCAA matches and raised questions about their future performance as they reflect on this setback.
Starkville, Mississippi – In a surprising turn of events, No. 12 Mississippi State triumphed over No. 6 Ohio State with a score of 4-2 on May 10, 2025, during the NCAA Men’s Tennis Super Regional round held at the Auer Tennis Complex. This victory not only solidified Mississippi State’s impressive season record of 25-5 but also enabled them to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.
Mississippi State’s progression in the tournament sets the stage for a matchup against either Stanford or South Carolina on May 16 in Waco, Texas. Meanwhile, this latest defeat caused Ohio State’s season record to drop to 28-4 and marked a significant moment as it was the team’s first home loss in 41 NCAA matches.
The match began on a challenging note for Ohio State when they dropped the doubles point, a misstep that ultimately contributed to their demise. Despite initially taking a 2-1 lead during the singles matches, the Buckeyes were unable to secure additional points thereafter. The team’s only singles victories came from Aidan Kim and Bryce Nakashima, who managed to win their respective matches.
As the match progressed, Mississippi State began to shift momentum. Petar Jovanovic evened the contest with a decisive 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ohio State’s Alexander Bernard. The Bulldogs built on this momentum as Mario Martinez Serrano secured a critical win, bringing home a 6-4, 6-4 victory, which shifted the score to 4-3 in favor of Mississippi State. The match was wrapped up when Dusan Milanovic clinched victory for his team by defeating Will Jansen with a score of 7-5, 7-6, including a tiebreaker of 7-4 in the second set.
This defeat has been a tough pill for Ohio State to swallow, particularly as the team was striving for their 19th consecutive appearance at the NCAA final site. This season has presented its fair share of challenges for the Buckeyes, who had previously clinched their 19th straight regular-season title but faced setbacks, including a loss to UCLA in the Big Ten Conference Tournament final.
The loss against Mississippi State raises questions about Ohio State’s overall performance and indicates a need for introspection as they prepare for the future. Evaluating their gameplay and strategic approaches will be essential for the Buckeyes as they look to regain their form and set their sights on achieving national championship success in the next season.
Mississippi State’s success not only marks a significant victory for the program but also highlights the emerging competition in college tennis. As they prepare for the quarterfinals, the Bulldogs will aim to build on this momentum and continue their pursuit of national glory.
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Additional Resources
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Wikipedia: NCAA Men’s Tennis
- Hail State
- Google Search: NCAA Men’s Tennis
- The Columbus Dispatch
- Google Scholar: Mississippi State Men’s Tennis
- Buckeyes Wire
- Encyclopedia Britannica: College Tennis
- C Dispatch
- Google News: NCAA Tournament
Author: STAFF HERE STARKVILLE WRITER
STARKVILLE STAFF WRITER The STARKVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREstarkville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Starkville, Oktibbeha County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Cotton District Arts Festival, Bulldog Bash, and Mississippi State University homecoming celebrations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Starkville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Mississippi State University Extension Service, plus leading businesses in education and agriculture that power the local economy such as Mississippi State University and Starkville Manufacturing. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Mississippi's dynamic landscape.
