When they were just 12 years old, sophomore Rushil Khosla and freshman Rethin Pranav Senthil Kumar shared the court representing India in junior tournaments. Nearly a decade later, the two reunited halfway across the world, this time wearing Cornell uniforms to deliver a standout performance this weekend with some big wins.
The duo went unbeaten through the three-day tournament at Penn’s Hamlin/Hecht Tennis Centers, winning several matches and defeating the No. 3 and No. 1 seeds on their way to the championship. A solid 6-4, 6-3 outing over a strong Harvard duo clinched Cornell’s first-ever Ivy Masters qualifier title and secured a berth in the ITA Conference Masters Championships, which will be held Nov. 6-9 in San Diego.
If the tandem excels at that event, they could punch their ticket to the prestigious NCAA Championship in Orlando.
“Kudos to Rushil and Rethin for winning [the] Ivy League Championships,” said head coach Silviu Tanasoiu. “It’s incredibly encouraging to see them come through in consecutive matches and stay tough in the most important moments in the match.”
For Khosla, the win carried special meaning. Last year, he and teammate junior Eric Verdes captured the ITA Regional Championship and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in Waco, Texas. He was looking to relive his Regionals magic, but a shoulder injury forced him to sit out this year’s Regionals at Yale, making this Ivy title feel like redemption.
“I could not compete at Regionals (this year), so winning this tournament and qualifying for the event gives me a second chance to qualify for the NCAA Championship,” Khosla said.
Khosla and Kumar’s connection dates back years. Their experience and close kinship contributed to their success on the court.
“We [have] played doubles before at [an] Asian Championships Tournament in Japan,” Khosla said. “We won the tournament. Personally, I feel he has a great overall game, and our game plan and energy were compatible. I would personally say consistency and teamwork would be my two favorite answers credited to our win this weekend.”
He added that Kumar’s heavy, aggressive baseline play complements his own attacking net game, a combination that’s become their secret and defining pattern.
Kumar said that their long-standing friendship made it easy to find a rhythm quickly.
“We’ve known each other for a long time and played together a few times back when we represented India, so it felt easy to get back into rhythm,” Kumar said. “We kept things simple, stayed positive, communicated well, and just trusted our instincts. It’s our first time playing together for Cornell, and to qualify for such a big event feels really special. It shows that our hard work is paying off.”
Kumar and Khosla have balancing styles on the court: Khosla tends to be calm and composed under pressure, while Khosla brings energy and intensity — a mix that’s served them well in deciding moments.
Kumar added that the pair is still looking to sharpen key areas.
“We want to be more solid with our returns and serves, and keep improving how we close points at the net,” Kumar said.
The men’s team will now shift focus to the ITA Conference Masters Championships in San Diego, where Khosla and Kumar will compete for a place among the nation’s top collegiate doubles teams — and a shot at joining their teammates, senior Petar Teodorovic and junior Felipe Pinzon (who clinched last weekend) at the NCAA Championships.
“We need to sharpen up our singles going forward, and make sure that we perform at the highest level,” Tanasoiu said. “That’s what we’re going to be focusing on in the next few weeks.”
Austin Curtis is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. He is a Sun Staff Writer and can be reached at acurtis@cornellsun.com.
