Chambana Sun

Head coach Brad Dancer of the Illinois men's tennis team has announced that David Bakonyi and Adam Jilly will join the Fighting Illini's 2025 signing class. The two athletes, who are from Hungary, have already competed together in doubles on the junior circuit and will join the team ahead of the fall 2025 semester after signing Big Ten Athletics Scholarship Agreements.

"We are super excited to bring in two immensely talented players to join our squad in the fall," said Dancer. "Their enthusiasm, athleticism, and competitive spirit make them a perfect fit for our program. They both come from great families and bring great character. We can't wait to work with them and help unlock their ambition and potential."

David Bakonyi, from Telki, Pest, Hungary, has won three singles and 13 doubles ITF junior titles. His career-high ITF junior singles ranking is 182, and he has reached as high as 1694 in the ATP doubles rankings. Bakonyi plans to major in economics at Illinois.

"I didn't have the chance to go on a visit before making my decision, but I felt like the coaches and the team at Illinois would be a great fit for me," Bakonyi said. "When I went on a visit after committing, I was even more sure that I made the right decision."

Adam Jilly hails from Budapest, Hungary. He has achieved four ITF junior singles titles and nine ITF junior doubles titles alongside Bakonyi. His highest ranking in ITF junior singles is 111; he has also reached career highs of 1368 in ATP singles rankings and 1686 in ATP doubles rankings. Jilly plans to study business at Illinois.

"I really wanted to join a competitive tennis program with very good academics, and I think Illinois makes all of this possible for me," Jilly stated. "I also really liked how the coaches were very sympathetic and helpful to me."