Syracuse Tennis 2026 Preview
Syracuse Tennis 2026 Preview
By Evan Zaretsky | @evan_zaretsky
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – As Syracuse tennis enters year 12 under Head Coach Younes Limam, it looks to bounce back off a disappointing 2025 campaign. The Orange ended their season 11-11 (2-10 in ACC), which ranked second-to-last in the conference. SU recorded its worst record in conference play since joining the ACC back in 2013. Let’s take a look at how the roster shapes out for Syracuse this season.
Anastasia Sysoeva – It’s safe to say that senior Anastasia Sysoeva has some big shoes to fill. The Florida native played primarily at No. 3 singles last season and finished 2-15, but found more success in doubles play where she went 9-10. Although Sysoeva jumped around with doubles partners last season, expect her main pairing to be with junior Nelly Knezkova this spring. The duo had a strong showing in the fall, and enter the season ranked 19th on ITA’s (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) Women’s NCAA D1 tennis doubles pairings.
Serafima Shastova – After transferring to Syracuse from Jacksonville State last season, Serafima Shastova dominated in 2025. The senior played singles at the No. 5 spot last season, and finished 12-5, including eight wins in conference matches. Shastova won an ITA Regional singles title in 2024, and was one of just 64 players to be selected for the NCAA Singles Championship this past fall. The Orange’s success will certainly be dependent on Shastova’s performance in the spring.
Constance Levivier – Senior Constance Levivier didn’t appear much for Syracuse last season. The France native played just five singles matches last spring, but went 4-1. Anticipate Levivier to be put in a larger role this season in both singles and doubles play.
Nelly Knezkova – Junior Nelly Knezkova enters her second season with Syracuse. The Hawai’i transfer posted an overall record of 37-27 in 2025. Known as the battler for the Orange, Knezkova pushed a third set in seven singles matches last year. She started her season off hot, but struggled to pick up wins against conference opponents. On the doubles side of things, expect Knezkova to be in the No. 1 pairing with Anastasia Sysoeva.
Monika Wojcik – After a strong freshman season, Monika Wojcik looks to continue riding her momentum from 2025 where she finished singles and doubles play 13-4 and 11-8, respectively. Wojcik won singles matches against tough ACC opponents including California, Clemson, and Virginia Tech. After playing at No. 6 for a majority of the 2025 season, the Florida native is now positioned for a more prominent role for the Orange.
Haram Kim – Sophomore Haram Kim played in just two matches for SU last season, going 2-0. Prior to arriving at Syracuse, the Korean went 42-30 overall in ITF (International Tennis Federation) matches, and won an ITF junior doubles title in 2022.
The remaining two spots on the Syracuse tennis roster have yet to be announced, but whomever they may be have high expectations. They take the spots of former seniors Miyuka Kimoto and Shiori Ito. The two Japanese players were massive parts of the team over the past few seasons. Last year, Kimoto played at No. 1 singles and Ito played at nearly every position. The losses for SU means opportunities for new faces to emerge and returning players to rise to the challenge.
Season Opener
Syracuse prepares to get back in action when it hosts Cornell on Saturday. It’s the second straight year the Orange face the Big Red in their opener after a 6-1 win last season. Game time is set for 11:00 a.m. at Drumlins. To follow the season opener and everything SU tennis this spring, follow @evan_zaretsky on X/Twitter and CitrusTV on Youtube.
