INDIAN WELLS, Calif. ââ'¬" After a week of training in sunny California, the Purdue men's tennis team will make its debut in the 2018 BNP Paribas Open Collegiate Tennis Challenge on Friday against No. 39 California. The 5 p.m. ET dual inside the Indian Wells Tennis Garden will be a quasi-rematch for both programs, as the Boilermakers and Golden Bears also met in the opening round of the tournament last season.
The fifth edition of the BNPPO Collegiate Tennis Challenge will provide 14 men's and women's college programs the opportunity to compete on the same courts as the pros at one of the world's most prestigious tennis venues. Additionally, the three-day tournament is purposefully held during the final weekend of the annual BNP Paribas Open to both help elevate the sport and expose college players to an elite level of tennis.
On Purdue
The Boilermakers enter the challenge on a four-match win streak after opening the season 3-6. No. 67 Gergely Madarasz will compete on court one in both singles and in doubles with partner Athell Bennett. The tandem is currently ranked No. 39 in the nation with a 7-2 record overall.
Purdue spent the last week training in La Jolla and Palm Desert, California to prepare for the outdoor event. So far, the Boilermakers have only competed in the elements once this season ââ'¬" a 4-3 loss to UNLV at the 2018 ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Waco, Texas.
2018 marks Purdue's third appearance in the BNPPO Collegiate Tennis Challenge; the team also competed in 2015 and 2017.
On California
The third-seeded Golden Bears are 5-4 overall this season, with losses to fellow Big Ten schools Illinois and Michigan. Most recently, California notched a win over Arizona in its first conference dual.
Similar to the Boilermakers, the program enters the tournament with one player ranked in both singles and doubles. No. 52 Billy Griffith will competed with partner J.T. Nishimura at the first position. The duo is ranked No. 32 in the nation.