CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard men's tennis (4-3) completed an undefeated weekend by defeating Michigan, 4-3, and Merrimack, 5-1, this afternoon at the Murr Center. 

How it Happened vs. Michigan

It was a gritty performance from start to finish for the Crimson as it began the day battling to the doubles point.  Michigan struck first with a 7-5 win at the top spot but Kolos Kincses and Rohan Murali responded on court two.  The duo recorded their fifth win in as many matches, defeating Bjorn Swenson and Mert Oral (Michigan) with their own 7-5 result. 

James MacDonald and Masato Perera then secured the doubles point for the Crimson, battling through a 7-6 (5) tiebreak to win at the No. 3 doubles spot. 

Marc Ktiri then put Harvard further ahead with a strong 6-3, 6-1 win over Pierce Shaya (Michigan) at court six. 

The Wolverines responded, getting on the board for the first time with a victory on the top singles court.  Nathan Blokhin, however, followed with a three-set (6-0, 4-6, 6-1) win over Nicholas Steiglehner (Michigan) at the No. 3 spot to put Harvard within a point of clinching the match. 

Michigan refused to go away, eventually tying the contest with two consecutive wins on court two and four. 

The match would come down to Mitchell Lee on court five, who had narrowly lost the opening set in tiebreakers.  The sophomore would bounce back from the first set loss, winning the next two sets 6-1, 6-4 to clinch the victory for Harvard. 

The Crimson are now 3-0 against Big Ten teams in 2026, with two of those wins coming this weekend. 

"What a classic 4-3 battle today.  Seems like every time we play Michigan the team match goes down to the wire," said Andrew Rueb '95, the Scott Mead '77 Head Coach for Harvard Men's Tennis.  "Super proud of our guys for their fight.  These matches came down to a few points, and we were able to grab those today."

Results vs. Michigan

Harvard – 4, Michigan – 3
Doubles

1. Max Dahlin/Pierce Shaya (Michigan) def. Nathan Blokhin/Benjamin Privara (Harvard), 7-5
2. Kolos Kincses/Rohan Murali (Harvard) def. Bjorn Swenson/Mert Oral (Michigan), 7-5
3. James MacDonald/Masato Perera (Harvard) def. Arnav Bhandari/Nicholas Steiglehner (Michigan), 7-6 (5)

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles

1. No. 7 Max Dahlin (Michigan) def. No. 109 Benjamin Privara (Harvard), 6-4, 7-6 (5)
2. Bjorn Swenson (Michigan) def. Rohan Murali (Harvard), 7-5, 6-3
3. Nathan Blokhin (Harvard) def. Nicholas Steiglehner (Michigan), 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
4. No. 123 Mert Oral (Michigan) def. Masato Perera (Harvard), 7-6 (5), 7-5
5. Mitchell Lee (Harvard) def. Arnav Bhandari (Michigan), 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4
6. Marc Ktiri (Harvard) def. Pierce Shaya (Michigan), 6-3, 6-1

Order of finish: 6, 1, 3, 2, 4, 5

How it Happened vs. Merrimack

The Crimson started the day by winning its third straight doubles point.  Nathan Blokhin and Benjamin Privara recorded a 6-3 win and Kolos Kincses and Rohan Murali remained undefeated on the year with a 6-2 victory. 

In his first time playing at the top singles spot, Rohan Murali defeated Tom Van Nooten (Merrimack), 6-0, 6-2. 

James MacDonald followed with his first victory of the season, besting Bjorn Hedegaard-Friis (Merrimack) in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1. 

Kolos Kincses tallied the final victory of the day for Harvard, dropping Ludolph Wiggett (Merrimack), 6-2, 6-3. 

Results vs. Merrimack

Harvard – 5, Merrimack – 1
Doubles

1. Nathan Blokhin/Benjamin Privara (Harvard) def. Michael Schut/Ludolph Wiggett (Merrimack), 6-3
2. Kolos Kincses/Rohan Murali (Harvard) def. Tom Van Nooten/Strahinja Djukic (Merrimack), 6-2
3. James MacDonald/Noah Gilligan (Harvard) vs. Trey Pleasant/Bjorn Hedegaard-Friis (Merrimack), 4-4 DNF

Order of finish: 1, 2
Singles

1. Rohan Murali (Harvard) def. Tom Van Nooten (Merrimack), 6-0, 6-2
2. Masato Perera (Harvard) vs. Strahinja Djukic (Merrimack), 6-3, 4-2 DNF
3. Kolos Kincses (Harvard) def. Ludolph Wiggett (Merrimack), 6-2, 6-3
4. Marc Ktiri (Harvard) def. Michael Schut (Merrimack), 4-0 ret.
5. James MacDonald (Harvard) def. Bjorn Hedegaard-Friis (Merrimack), 6-2, 6-1
6. Harvard forfeit

Order of finish: 4, 1, 5, 3

Next Up

Harvard will continue its home stretch next weekend as it welcomes Buffalo to Cambridge on Friday, February 6 at 5:00 p.m. ET.