Kentucky Opens Season Wednesday Against Dayton
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky men’s tennis is set to open its 2026 season on Wednesday, January 14, hosting Dayton in a doubleheader. Play from the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex is set to begin at 10 a.m. ET, with the second match slated for a 2 p.m. first serve. Admission to both matches is free to the public and live court feeds will be available on UKAthletics.com.
Kentucky returns to the friendly confines of the Boone after an undefeated home slate in 2025, compiling a pristine 14-0 record. The Cats are currently undefeated in their last 27 home matches, dating to February 2024. Since 2021, Kentucky is 71-5 in Lexington.
The Wildcats enter the spring season after a successful fall campaign that saw Eli Stephenson and Jack Loutit qualify for the 2025 NCAA Singles Championship and advance to the round of 32. Stephenson earned his first career ITA Singles Ranking at the end of the fall, debuting at No. 19, while Loutit enters the dual season at No. 26. The duo also rank No. 69 in the ITA doubles rankings and enter their junior season after an All-American campaign on the doubles court in 2025.
Freshman Mikael Arseneault also earned his first career ITA Singles Ranking after the fall campaign, debuting at No. 124.
The 2026 squad enters the new year with seven returning players from a 2025 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In addition to All-American and All-SEC players Loutit and Stephenson, these returners include ATP Top 500 player, First Team All-SEC, SEC All-Freshman, and ITA Ohio Valley Region Rookie of the Year Antoine Ghibaudo and All-SEC athletes Jaden Weekes and Charlelie Cosnet.
The Cats also added the No. 8 freshman class in the country, welcoming twin brothers Nicolas and Mikael Arseneault. Nicolas featured as the No. 5 newcomer in the country according to the ITA and holds a career high ATP Ranking inside the top 500.
The Wildcats are receiving votes in the preseason ITA Coaches Poll and are set to face 11 teams in 2026 that are inside the top 25 or receiving votes.
The Cats will close out the opening week of play by welcoming No. 20 Michigan State to Lexington on Sunday, January 18. All home matches are held at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex and admission is free to the public.
For the latest on UK Men’s Tennis, follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKMensTennis.
