Special from
Zoo Tennis
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KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Matthew Forbes is the first to admit that his results in 2024 had been underwhelming. Winning just five matches in the eight International Tennis Federation Junior Circuit tournaments he played didn't inspire much confidence as the USTA National Championships in Kalamazoo approached, and as the No. 20 seed, he was projected to lose in the round of 32.
But when his Michigan State teammates doused him with a Gatorade bath Sunday evening after his 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory over No. 8 seed Jack Kennedy in the 18s final, all the year's disappointments were washed away, leaving him with the coveted US Open main draw wild card.
Matthew Forbes Gets Doused by His Michigan State Teammates After Capturing the 18s Singles Title
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Forbes, an 18-year-old Raleigh, North Carolina resident, had initially committed to the University of North Carolina, but reopened his college search this spring, choosing the Spartans less than two weeks before the Kalamazoo tournament. With East Lansing less than an hour and a half away, Forbes had plenty of support from the Green and White, with MSU junior and 2024 NCAA singles semifinalist Ozan Baris playing a major role, including warming up Forbes for the championship match.
"It was amazing, they got me through the match," Forbes said of his teammates, who provided encouragement throughout the three-hour and 20-minute final. "They've helped me a lot, especially Ozan. Going through the recruiting process, me committing there, that was a big thing. I'm good, but I have some maturing to do. He went through the same thing, and at Michigan State, I don't know that he had someone to look up to and talk to. He's helped me a lot, especially the mentality going into the match, telling me to just go for it, believe, don't think about anything, any wild card, just go for it."
