The Fordham University men's tennis team put up a valiant fight but ultimately fell to Davidson College with a score of 4-1 during the 2025 Atlantic 10 Championship held at the USTA National Campus. Despite this setback, Fordham concludes their season with an impressive 9-9 record, marking their most successful campaign since 2019. The match began promisingly for the Rams as they secured the doubles point by winning two out of three doubles matches. However, the singles competition saw Fordham dropping the first four completed matches, though several contests were fiercely contested and extended into third sets.

Three singles matches went to deciding third sets, showcasing the Rams' tenacity despite the final outcome. Notably, Andro Barrientos and Will Lokier both pushed their opponents to the limit before succumbing in tight third-set encounters. In the top singles position, Dhillon Virdee-Oakley engaged in an intense battle with Uddayvir Singh, eventually losing in a closely contested tiebreaker in the third set.

Rams Dominate Doubles Play

In the opening phase of the championship match, Fordham displayed exceptional teamwork and strategic play in the doubles segment. They managed to secure the crucial doubles point by prevailing in two out of the three doubles matchups against Davidson. This early success provided a strong foundation for the Rams heading into the singles portion of the competition.

The duo of Dhillon Virdee-Oakley and Dhanajay Athreya delivered a decisive victory with a 6-3 win over Nico Pinzon and Gregorio Hidalgo at the first doubles slot. Meanwhile, Phillip Uhde and Filip Horak led 4-3 in their second doubles match when the Davidson pair withdrew, granting Fordham another point. Although the Wildcats claimed the third doubles match, the Rams had already established a commanding lead in the doubles section, setting a positive tone for what followed.

Tough Singles Battles Highlight Rams' Resilience

Despite falling short in the singles matches, Fordham demonstrated remarkable resilience and competitive spirit throughout the contest. Three out of the four completed singles matches extended into third sets, reflecting the Rams' determination to turn the tide even in challenging situations.

At the sixth singles position, Andro Barrientos rebounded after losing the first set to Nico Pinzon, only to narrowly lose in the third set. Similarly, Will Lokier triumphed in the first set against Gregorio Hidalgo but was unable to maintain the momentum in subsequent sets. The highlight of the singles competition came from Dhillon Virdee-Oakley, who engaged in a grueling battle with Uddayvir Singh. After winning the first set, Virdee-Oakley lost the second set in a tiebreak and narrowly missed out on victory in another tiebreaker in the third set. These performances underscored the Rams' commitment and competitiveness, even in defeat.