Chambana Sun

Illinois men’s tennis will open its 2025 fall season at the Battle In The Bay Classic, held from September 11-14 at the California Tennis Club in San Francisco. Senior Kenta Miyoshi and freshman Adam Jilly are set to represent the Fighting Illini during the four-day tournament.

Miyoshi, returning for his second consecutive appearance at this event, previously won the singles consolation draw last year after a first-round loss by securing four straight wins over ranked opponents. Entering his senior year, Miyoshi is coming off a junior season where he was named ITA All-American, earned unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honors, and was selected as a CSC First Team All-American. He has been recognized three times as Big Ten Player of the Week and starts his final collegiate season with preseason rankings of No. 6 in singles and No. 2 in doubles.

Freshman Adam Jilly will make his collegiate debut at this tournament. Jilly arrives with an accomplished junior career that includes four ITF junior singles titles and nine doubles titles. He represented Hungary at the 2025 Davis Cup Qualifiers in Canada and enters college ranked as the No. 10 newcomer nationally by ITA.

In Thursday’s opening round, Miyoshi will face Cal’s Lenn Luemkemann at 12:45 p.m. CT; Miyoshi defeated Luemkemann twice last season when Luemkemann played for Oregon. Jilly is set to play Michigan State’s Ozan Baris—the tournament’s No. 2 seed and defending champion—at 5:30 p.m. CT.

The Illinois pair will also compete together in doubles against Stanford’s Nicholas Godsick and Hudson Rivera, who are seeded second and ranked No. 16 nationally in preseason doubles rankings; their match is scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m. CT.

This tournament marks the start of Brad Dancer’s twenty-first season as head coach since taking over leadership of the program in June 2005.

"Kenta Miyoshi and freshman Adam Jilly will represent the Orange and Blue at the four-day event, which will run from Sept. 11-14 at the California Tennis Club in San Francisco."

"Miyoshi will take part in the competition for the second straight season, while Jilly is set to make his collegiate debut."

"The reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, Miyoshi won the singles consolation draw at Battle In The Bay last year, bouncing back from a first-round defeat by earning four consecutive ranked victories en route to the consolation title."

"The Japan native enters his senior year in the Orange and Blue in 2025-26, coming off a historic junior campaign during which he was an ITA All-American, unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honoree, and CSC First Team All-American."

"A three-time Big Ten Player of the Week, Miyoshi heads into his final collegiate season with preseason rankings of No. 6 in singles and No. 2 in doubles."

"Jilly makes the trip to San Francisco with an impressive junior resume, having won four ITF junior singles and nine doubles titles."

"A native of Hungary, Jilly represented his home country at the 2025 Davis Cup Qualifiers in Canada and was tabbed the No. 10-ranked newcomer in the country in the ITA preseason rankings."

"Miyoshi is the top-seeded player in the singles main draw, and he will face Cal's Lenn Luemkemann in the opening round of play on Thursday at 12:45 p.m. CT."

"Miyoshi defeated Luemkemann twice in straight sets last season when the current Cal junior played at Oregon."

"Jilly will take on Michigan State's No. 2-seeded Ozan Baris, who won the competition in 2023, on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CT."

"Jilly and Miyoshi will team up in men's doubles main draw, squaring off with No.2-seeded Stanford's Nicholas Godsick & Hudson Rivera on Thursday at 11 a.m.C.T.Godsick/Rivera are ranked No .16 in the preseason doubles listing."

"The beginning of the Illini's fall slate marks the start of Brad Dancer's 21st season at the helm of the program after taking the head coaching job i n June

2005."