Middle Tennessee Tennis Sweeps Competition, Duran Earns Athlete of the Week

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee State University men’s tennis team continued its strong performance, securing wins against Alabama State and Austin Peay on Sunday. Junior Birtan Duran was named Conference USA Athlete of the Week, while seniors Karim Al-Amin and Ondrej Horak were recognized as the CUSA Men’s Doubles Team of the Week for the second time this season.

Recent Successes

The Blue Raiders recently achieved a significant victory, sweeping No. 19 Princeton 7-0 on February 21, 2026. This win marked the team’s continued success against nationally ranked opponents. Previously, Middle Tennessee defeated #19 Northwestern 4-3 on March 9, 2023, and #19 Duke 4-2 on January 27, 2023. A historic win also occurred on March 26, 2006, when they defeated #18 Louisville 4-3 at home.

Player Recognition

Birtan Duran, a junior from Istanbul, Turkey, is excelling in his third year with the Blue Raiders. Duran’s recent performance earned him the Conference USA Athlete of the Week award. Seniors Ondrej Horak and Karim Al-Amin are currently ranked No. 38 nationally in doubles.

Upcoming Matches & Series Records

Middle Tennessee holds a 2-0 lead in its series against Alabama State and boasts an impressive 11-0 record against Austin Peay.

Opponent Information

Alabama State enters the competition with a 3-4 season record, having faced challenging opponents like Florida State and Alabama. Head coach Anuk Christiansz is in his 17th season leading the team. Austin Peay, under the direction of head coach Kurt Kujawa in his 12th season, has a 2-4 record.

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