The Fordham men’s tennis team started the 2021 spring season on a very successful note, by winning its first two matches. The first of which stems all the way back to March 7, when the Rams swept Sacred Heart 7-0 before defeating Lafayette College 6-1 this past Sunday. In-between were three scheduled and then canceled matches, with a new schedule having been revealed since.

Fordham managed to get off to a great start during the season opener by winning the doubles point. Junior Tom Russwurm and senior Lutwin de Macar won 6-2 in the first doubles and seniors Max Green and Fabian Mauritzon won 6-0 in the second doubles. This was sufficient to gain the doubles point. 

With the early success behind them, junior Jofre Segarra won at six singles, 6-2 6-2, and senior Alex Makastaria won 6-2 6-2 at three singles. Mauritzon then won 6-1 6-3 to ensure the team’s victory on the day. De Macar and Green won in third set tie breaks to secure a sweep for the match.

Despite the long hiatus, Fordham continued the early momentum, defeating Lafayette College 6-1. The match started with three solid doubles wins to get the doubles point. It then cracked on to get five successful singles wins to make it 6-0. After a hard fought battle, Mauritzon lost 10-12, making it a 6-1 victory for Fordham at the end of the day.

It was later announced that freshman Nicholas Kanazirev earned the title of Atlantic 10 Men’s Tennis Rookie of the Week for his efforts at both second singles and doubles.

Now returning to action, Fordham will look to kick their season into gear. Their next tests come this weekend, the first against Quinnipiac University on Saturday in Connecticut, followed by a Sunday showdown with Bucknell University at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens.