Men’s Tennis Drops Battle to Penn at ECAC Championships

Princeton, N.J. – Harvard men’s tennis (6-5) suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat at the hands of Penn (6-1) in the opening round of the ECAC Championships this afternoon. Despite a strong start in doubles play, the Crimson ultimately fell short against a determined Penn squad.

Dominating Start in Doubles

Harvard secured its sixth consecutive doubles point to begin the match. Kolos Kincses and Rohan Murali earned a 6-2 victory at the No. 2 position, while Masato Perera and James MacDonald clinched the point with a 6-4 win over Penn’s Parashar Bharadwaj and Matt Rutter. The No. 1 doubles match was lost by Harvard, 6-3.

Singles Battles and a Late Rally

Penn quickly responded in singles competition, winning the first two matches in straight sets on courts one and three. However, Harvard fought back as Masato Perera secured a 6-2, 6-3 victory on court four. A retirement by Matt Rutter of Penn on court five then gave Harvard a 3-2 lead. Mitchell Lee was leading 7-5, 1-0 when his match was suspended.

Penn Secures the Victory

Penn proved too strong, winning the final two completed singles matches at the No. 2 and No. 6 positions to claim the 4-3 victory. Manfredi Graziani of Penn defeated Benjamin Privara 6-1, 6-3, Luka Butera defeated Rohan Murali 6-3, 6-4, Shaurya Bharadwaj defeated Nathan Blokhin 6-4, 6-2, and Vojtech Vales defeated Marc Ktiri 0-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Did You Know? Harvard captured its sixth-consecutive doubles point before ultimately losing the match.

Expert Insight: The momentum swings in this match – a strong doubles performance followed by a challenging singles battle – highlight the unpredictable nature of collegiate tennis and the importance of consistent play across all positions.

Next Up

Harvard will face Dartmouth tomorrow, February 15, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET in Princeton, N.J. A win against Dartmouth could provide a boost as the Crimson continue their season, while another loss could present challenges for their overall ranking and postseason aspirations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of the match?

The final score was Harvard 3, Penn 4.

Which Harvard players won their singles matches?

Masato Perera and Mitchell Lee won their singles matches for Harvard.

What is Harvard’s next match?

Harvard will face Dartmouth at 12:00 p.m. ET tomorrow in Princeton, N.J.

How important are doubles points in determining the outcome of a college tennis match?