CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The No. 3 Tufts University men's tennis team saw its 2026 campaign come to an end at the Champions Tennis Club in Chattanooga, Tenn., as the Jumbos fell to No. 2 University of Chicago 4-1 in the 2026 NCAA Division III Semifinals.

The loss ended a historic season that saw the Jumbos earn a program-record 25 victories while going 10-0 in the NESCACe for the second straight season. Despite the loss, Tufts has posted a 90-15 record over the last four seasons. The Jumbos have also been to the NCAA Quarterfinals or further in five straight campaigns. 

The Maroons are the only team to defeat the Jumbos in Division III play, as Tufts also dropped a 6-1 decision to Chicago back on March 18. In that match, Tufts earned the doubles point but was swept in singles' action. 

The script played out similarly in the semifinal, as the Jumbos won the doubles point with the deciding matches finishing within seconds of each other. Senior Andrej Djokic and sophomore Kaetan Mehta clinched a 6-3 win over Gopal Koduri and Shrikeshav Murugesan to put Tufts ahead, with the doubles' points being clinched moments later with a 6-2 win at No. 3 by Javier Gonzalez and Stavros Mastrogamvrakis. 

Singles was a battle from the beginning, with swings on both sides of the net, but four of the first six sets would go in favor of the Maroons to put the Jumbos down. During the second set of each of the singles' matches, rain and lightning entered the area and forced a stoppage for nearly three hours. 

When the teams reentered from the delay, Chicago would take control as Alexander Ekstrand knocked off Djokic 6-2, 7-6 (3) to deadlock the match at one. Ajer Sher would put the Maroons ahead for good at No. 5, as he defeated senior Sacha Maes 6-4, 6-4. 

At No. 1, Gonzelez and Murugesan played a thrilling match of back-and-forth tennis, but in the end, Murugesan was able to win in straight sets with scores of 7-6 (9), 6-4. That would put the Jumbos in a position to win the last three matches still being played to advance. 

While those last three matches were in progress, another rain delay was called, forcing the teams back to the hotel. Once play finally restarted around 6 p.m. local time, Christian Liew was able to nail down the final point to clinch the match with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Mehta to push the Maroons through. 

Chicago will take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Friday at 1 p.m. at Champions Tennis Club in the national title match.

The NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships begin on May 23 at the Champions Tennis Club.