At the start of the season, Virginia men’s tennis was younger and less experienced than in years past — but also full of promise. Now, after two breezy NCAA Tournament wins and with a super regional date with No. 10 seed Arizona set for Saturday, that promise is beginning to materialize.
“I think we're a lot better today than we were back in January on a number of levels,” Coach Andres Pedroso said Sunday, after Virginia defeated Princeton. “It’s been a real growth year for these guys.”
That growth starts with freshman Rafael Jódar. Since arriving in January, Jódar has not only adjusted quickly but has solidified himself at the top of the singles lineup — compiling a 14-match win streak at No. 1 singles prior to the ACC final and earning a reputation as one of the top players in collegiate tennis.
“He's arguably one of the best players in college, and he's done really well in school, and so it's been an impressive effort by that first year student athlete,” Pedroso said in an interview last week. “And we're super proud of him.”
Jódar is far from alone. Fellow freshman Jangjun Kim has quietly become one of the most dangerous players in Virginia’s lineup. Navigating academic adjustments in his first semester, Kim has begun to settle into a rhythm, which is now translating into stronger on-court performances.
“He's a momentum player,” Pedroso said Sunday. “When he has momentum, he really does a good job of running with it. And he's got big weapons, so he can kind of take the racket out of your hand… When he gets the momentum, he runs with it. That's typical of him.”
Joining them is freshman Keegan Rice, whose first-year campaign has featured both flashes of dominance and lessons in resilience.
“Every time he has a tough day, he always bounces back,” Pedroso said. “That's what you love about Keegan Rice. Whenever he has adversity, he just bounces back and he plays even better and fights even harder, makes a couple adjustments, and that's what he's done all year.”
Rice credits his development to the freshman class’ tight-knit dynamic.
“I think coming in with a large freshman group… just doing it all together, having these experiences together, I think it's really, really helped us all build good bonds with the rest of the team,” Rice said Sunday. “And I mean, let's learn quicker together.”
His favorite moment? Clinching a pivotal match against Stanford after just weeks after struggling with his game.
For more veteran players like graduate student James Hopper and junior Mans Dahlberg, watching the newcomers blossom has been both inspiring and energizing.
“I came in here being the baby in the group with six, seven upperclassmen… They've taught me all the ways here, how we treat our culture and our tennis program,” Dahlberg said Sunday. “Now it's sort of the complete opposite, where I'm one of the upperclassmen and have six, seven guys coming in as freshmen.”
Their contributions have not just transformed the lineup — they have reshaped the team’s identity. The competitiveness, energy and development of Virginia’s freshmen reinforced a culture where growth is constant and leadership flows in every direction.
That culture has helped more than just the underclassmen find their footing. Hopper, who started last season recovering from wrist surgery, has become one of Virginia’s most reliable competitors — now holding down the No. 3 or No. 4 singles positions with maturity and relentless fight.
Hopper’s leadership has had a profound impact on the younger players, especially Rice, who shares a close bond with Hopper both on and off the court.
“Every day, he's got something for me,” Rice said Sunday. “I think he's been a great leader for the team, and I feel like me, especially because we play doubles together, that means we're rooming together on most of the trips. So really, just living and experiencing what he goes through, especially with college athletics, with his six years of experience — it's been special alongside him.”
Virginia’s youthful team has grown tremendously, and nowhere was that evolution more evident than at the ACC Tournament. Virginia stunned top-ranked Wake Forest in the semifinals before falling to Stanford in the final. For Pedroso, the experience served as both a confidence boost and a lesson in staying hungry.
“When we walk on the court with anyone, we need to believe that we can win, because the postseason is about how great we are mentally, how strong we are mentally, how united we are,” Pedroso said. “And we were able to put a complete match together against Wake and when we do that we can beat any team in the country.”
Now riding momentum from a dominant opening weekend in Charlottesville — where they swept Bucknell and Princeton — Virginia turn their attention to a third-round clash against No. 10 seed Arizona. If Virginia advances, a quarterfinal showdown awaits against either TCU or Central Florida.
“Everyone in this tournament is a threat, so everyone's got to be ready,” Pedroso said. “And that's our mindset. We're going in there with humility, but the belief that we can beat anyone.”
The team’s adaptability has also shown in doubles play, where pairings have shifted throughout the season to find the right chemistry. But regardless of lineup changes, the foundational principles remain unchanged: fight hard, trust each other and compete with purpose.
And with a chance to play at home in front of fans who have supported the team through its ups and downs, Virginia is not taking anything for granted.
“You always want to play at home,” Pedroso said. “It’s a lot of fun to play in front of your fans, especially a community that loves tennis as much as this one… So we look forward to playing at home.”
Six stars are stitched on the back of the team’s uniforms — each one a symbol of a national championship and Virginia’s legacy. But this year’s Cavaliers aren’t resting on legacy. They are writing their own chapter, fueled not by legacy but by the hunger of a new generation ready to rise.
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