Michigan
Harvard
Michigan Rally Comes Up Short in Loss at Harvard
2/1/2026 3:25:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Site: Cambridge, Mass. (Murr Center)
Score: Harvard 4, Michigan 3
Records: U-M (1-3), Harvard (3-3)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 7 -- vs. Columbia (Varsity Tennis Center), noon
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The University of Michigan men's tennis team rallied from a two-point deficit to force a decisive final singles match, but Harvard held on for a 4-3 victory on Sunday (Feb. 1) at the Murr Center.
Trailing 3-1, Michigan earned back-to-back wins at Nos. 2 and 4 singles to even the team score at 3-3, leaving the match to be decided at No. 5. Harvard's Mitchell Lee secured the clinching point, breaking serve late in the third set to defeat Arnav Bhandari, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4.
The Crimson claimed the doubles point with victories at Nos. 2 and 3. Michigan picked up its lone doubles win at the top of the lineup, where Max Dahlin and Pierce Shaya paired together for the first time and earned a 7-5 victory over Benji Privara and Noah Blokhin.
Harvard extended its lead to 2-0 when Marc Ktiri defeated Shaya in straight sets at No. 6 singles. Michigan answered at No. 1, as No. 7-ranked Dahlin earned a 6-4, 7-6 (5) win over No. 109 Privara to put the Wolverines on the board.
Noah Blokhin pushed Harvard ahead 3-1 with a three-set victory over Nicholas Steiglehner at No. 3. Michigan responded with consecutive wins to stay alive, beginning with Bjorn Swenson's 7-5, 6-3 victory over Rohan Murali at No. 2 for his 10th singles win of the season. Moments later, No. 123-ranked Mert Oral defeated Masato Perera, 7-6 (5), 7-5, at No. 4 to level the match.
Michigan returns home to host No. 12 Columbia in its home opener on Saturday (Feb. 7) at the Varsity Tennis Center. First serve is scheduled for noon, and admission is free.
Following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- No. 7 Max Dahlin (U-M) d. No. 109 Benji Privara (HAR), 6-4, 7-6 (5)
No. 2 -- Bjorn Swenson (U-M) d. Rohan Murali (HAR), 7-5, 6-3
No. 3 -- Noah Blokhin (HAR) d. Nicholas Steiglehner (U-M), 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
No. 4 -- No. 123 Mert Oral (U-M) d. Masato Perera (HAR), 7-6 (5), 7-5
No. 5 -- Mitchell Lee (HAR) d. Arnav Bhandari (U-M), 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4
No. 6 -- Marc Ktiri (HAR) d. Pierce Shaya (U-M), 6-3, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 -- Max Dahlin/Pierce Shaya (U-M) d. Benji Privara/Noah Blokhin (HAR), 7-5
No. 2 -- Kolos Kincses/Rohan Murali (HAR) d. Bjorn Swenson/Mert Oral (U-M), 7-5
No. 3 -- James MacDonald/Masato Perera (HAR) d. Nicholas Steiglehner/Arnav Bhandari (U-M), 7-6 (5)
Order of Completion: Doubles 1-2-3; Singles 6-1-3-2-4-5
Players Mentioned
