TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State men's tennis welcomes three programs from across the country this week for the first annual Tempe Collegiate Cup at the Kiwanis Tennis Center Jan. 10-12. The tournament will serve as the season opener for the men who look to improve in their second season since reinstatement.
The Sun Devils return six players in Andrea Bolla, Benjamin Hannestad, William Kirkman, Makey Rakotomalala, Tim Ruehl and Thomas Wright. ASU welcomes three transfers in Dominik Kellovsky from B.I.B.S. Brno International Business School in his native Czech Republic, Justin Roberts from the University of South Florida and Nathan Ponwith from the University of Georgia.
The diverse field features four teams from four of the five "Power Five" conferences in ASU from the Pac-12, Illinois from the Big Ten, Mississippi State from the SEC and TCU from the Big 12.
TCU is a familiar foe to the Sun Devils, as the Horned Frogs came to Tempe in the second weekend of the season last year. The last matchup between ASU and the Fighting Illini came in 2004, while the matchup between ASU and MSU represents the first meeting between the two schools in program history.
Of the four total teams taking part in the newly formed tournament, Illinois boasts the most ranked singles players with five, followed by Mississippi State with four and then TCU with three in the Oracle/ITA poll released on Nov. 14.
All four teams featured in the field are coming off of NCAA Tournament runs in 2018, providing the Sun Devils with ample opportunity to play with some of the top talent in the country. Mississippi State and Illinois went the furthest of those featured, with both fighting into the quarterfinals before Illinois fell to eventual national champion Wake Forest and MSU fell to Ohio State. The Fighting Illini also swept TCU to end the Horned Frogs' tournament run in the third round, while the Sun Devils bowed out in the first round to Baylor.
The event is free to the public and the schedule can be seen below.
Tempe Collegiate Cup Schedule
Thursday (1/10) 12pm start
ASU vs TCU
IL vs MSU
Friday (1/11) 12pm start
ASU vs IL
TCU vs MSU
Saturday (1/12) 12pm start
ASU vs MSU
TCU vs IL
The Sun Devils return six players in Andrea Bolla, Benjamin Hannestad, William Kirkman, Makey Rakotomalala, Tim Ruehl and Thomas Wright. ASU welcomes three transfers in Dominik Kellovsky from B.I.B.S. Brno International Business School in his native Czech Republic, Justin Roberts from the University of South Florida and Nathan Ponwith from the University of Georgia.
The diverse field features four teams from four of the five "Power Five" conferences in ASU from the Pac-12, Illinois from the Big Ten, Mississippi State from the SEC and TCU from the Big 12.
TCU is a familiar foe to the Sun Devils, as the Horned Frogs came to Tempe in the second weekend of the season last year. The last matchup between ASU and the Fighting Illini came in 2004, while the matchup between ASU and MSU represents the first meeting between the two schools in program history.
Of the four total teams taking part in the newly formed tournament, Illinois boasts the most ranked singles players with five, followed by Mississippi State with four and then TCU with three in the Oracle/ITA poll released on Nov. 14.
All four teams featured in the field are coming off of NCAA Tournament runs in 2018, providing the Sun Devils with ample opportunity to play with some of the top talent in the country. Mississippi State and Illinois went the furthest of those featured, with both fighting into the quarterfinals before Illinois fell to eventual national champion Wake Forest and MSU fell to Ohio State. The Fighting Illini also swept TCU to end the Horned Frogs' tournament run in the third round, while the Sun Devils bowed out in the first round to Baylor.
The event is free to the public and the schedule can be seen below.
Tempe Collegiate Cup Schedule
Thursday (1/10) 12pm start
ASU vs TCU
IL vs MSU
Friday (1/11) 12pm start
ASU vs IL
TCU vs MSU
Saturday (1/12) 12pm start
ASU vs MSU
TCU vs IL