Baylor Men's Tennis Slated Third in Big 12 Preseason Poll

WACO, Texas – The Baylor men’s tennis team is ranked No. 3 in the Big 12 Men’s Tennis Coaches Preseason Poll, it was announced by the conference on Tuesday. 

The Bears eclipsed an 18-12 win-season in the 2023-24 campaign, highlighted by a 4-0 sweep against the No. 5 team in the nation USC and a trip to NCAA College Station Regional, the 26th-consecutive NCAA tournament bid.

Baylor returned eight, including Marko Miladinovic who led the team with a 22-9 record last season, 12-5 in dual matches. Devin Badenhorst also returns after a successful freshman campaign, going 14-6 in dual matches, 10-6 on Court 3 and 3-3 against nationally ranked opponents.

In the ITA individual singles rankings following the fall season, Badenhorst landed at No. 25, while Zsombor Velcz was named No. 54 and Oskar Brostrom Poulsen at No. 58. The doubles pairings of Miladinovic and Brostom Poulsen rose to an impressive No. 3 ranking. The duo of Badenhorst and Velcz ranked among the top-25, appearing at No. 17.

Head coach Michael Woodson bolstered the roster with the addition of Alexandru Chrita, a 2025 spring roster add-on. Chirita is a 21-year-old graduate transfer coming to Baylor after having completed his undergraduate education at home in Romania while also playing professional tournaments. Chirita reached a career-high ATP singles world ranking of 723, and a career-high ATP doubles ranking of 777 – boasting a pair of ITF singles finals, one ITF doubles title, and three ITF doubles finals.

The Bears kick off the spring season with a double-header at home against Lamar and Abilene Christian on Jan. 12 at noon and 6 p.m. CT.

2025 BIG 12 MEN’S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL

1. TCU

2. Arizona

3. BAYLOR

4. Arizona State

5. Oklahoma State

6. UCF

7. Texas Tech

8. BYU

9. Utah