For the second consecutive year, men’s tennis will be represented on the national stage.
Junior Felipe Pinzon and senior Petar Teodorovic captured the ITA New England Regional doubles crown last Monday afternoon, Oct. 13, at Yale’s Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament next month in Orlando, Florida.
The Red duo clinched the title with a 6–4, 6–3 win over a dominant Yale pair, becoming just the third Cornell doubles team in program history to qualify for nationals. Last season, teammates sophomore Rushil Khosla and junior Eric Verdes earned an appearance against the top-seeded team.
“Having a team qualify for the NCAA for the second consecutive year is very encouraging,” said head coach Silviu Tanasoiu. “Kudos to Felipe and Petar, this was their very first tournament playing together. They matched so well together, [had] fantastic chemistry, and just overall great playing in the semifinal and the final.”
Both Teodorovic and Pinzon credited their chemistry and aggressive play as the foundation of their success.
“We played aggressive and trusted our game,” Teodorovic said. “Our power from the baseline helped us take control early in points and put a lot of pressure on opponents. The chemistry between us made a big difference too since we kept the energy up, communicated well, and stayed locked in from start to finish.”
Pinzon echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of their camaraderie and teamwork through the grueling four-day tournament.
“Something that worked really well was our chemistry,” Pinzon reflected. “We're both good friends off the court and I think that translated on the court, and we were able to play to our strengths, which is probably our baseline game.”
Pinzon described the regional as a demanding four-day marathon, with three matches each day that tested their focus and stamina. He credited their ability to stay composed and consistent as the reason they prevailed.
Though dominant throughout the Regional, the duo is already looking for ways to sharpen their play before nationals. Both stressed the importance of honing their net skills.
Teodorovic explained that their main priority in practice has been improving volleys and finishing points more decisively at the net. While the pair already rely on strong baseline play and powerful groundstrokes to control rallies, they’ve been emphasizing better execution in their preparation for the upcoming Florida tournament.
Pinzon agreed with his teammate. He mentioned that volleys were the missing puzzle piece to elevate the tandem’s game.
“Something we're both definitely trying to improve by the time we go to NCAA is our volleys and our net game,” he said. “I feel like we're both such good players from the baseline that if we have strong volleys, we're able to get even more points.”
Their partnership, they agreed, thrives on balance: Pinzon’s energy and power combined with Teodorovic’s composure and tactical focus. Off the court, their friendship keeps them relaxed even in high-pressure moments.
“Felipe brings a ton of energy and power that can completely change the momentum, and I try to keep us calm and organized so we can stay focused on our patterns,” Teodorovic said. “It’s a balance that works really well for us.”
Having faced numerous high-stakes matches before college, both players said experience has helped them handle pressure with composure. Teodorovic noted that they now focus on “what we can control,” like our energy, our game plan, and each point,” while Pinzon stated that his time at Cornell has made him “more secure and confident during big moments.”
They credited Tanasoiu, now in his 14th season, for his emphasis on precision and discipline. Teodorovic highlighted his coach’s attention to key technical details, as well as his focus on mental fortitude in pressure situations.
“He’s big on details like serve placement, poaching, and volley positioning, and he always pushes us to stay disciplined with our patterns,” Teodorovic said. “Mentally, he’s helped us stay composed and confident no matter the opponent, which has been huge in pressure situations.”
Likewise, Pinzon said his coach has helped him greatly with his mental toughness.
“Silviu is a great coach,” he said. “He’s mostly worked with me on staying focused for long periods of time. I think that’s our main focus for the moment.”
With nationals just under a month away (Nov. 18-23), the duo is embracing the challenge ahead.
“We’re really excited for nationals,” Teodorovic said. “The mindset is to stay aggressive, trust our strengths, and not hold back. We know we can compete with anyone if we play our style.”
But that’s not the only event Cornell is looking forward to. The men’s team eagerly awaits the Ivy League Championships on Oct. 24, where it will face off against the other powerhouse Ivy schools.
Heading into that event will mean just as much to Pinzon and Teodorovic. For both players, the accomplishment and opportunity carries a deeper pride in representing Cornell in college tennis’s biggest stages.
“It means a lot to represent Cornell and compete for the program,” Teodorovic said. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, but this is just the start. We both take a lot of pride in wearing the Cornell gear and doing everything we can to keep pushing the program forward.”
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.
