Chambana Sun

The University of Illinois men's tennis program has announced the addition of two new players for its 2026-27 roster. Head coach Brad Dancer confirmed on Wednesday that Jon Gamble and Nicholas Mekhael have signed Big Ten Athletics Aid Agreements and will join the Fighting Illini.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jon and Nicholas to the program," said Dancer. "They both have a tremendous passion to represent and put their stamp on Illinois Tennis. Jon is a hard working left-hander who is incredibly ambitious. He comes from an industrious Midwest family. We know his athletic talent; he can move and play on a multitude of different surfaces. He is an excellent student who will excel in the classroom as well.

"Nicholas is a highly intelligent tennis player who has a keen eye for the game. We know as he grows into his body more and develops his weapons that he will be an elite player. Nicholas is a tremendous student and well-respected and liked by his peers."

Jon Gamble, from Las Vegas, Nevada, is rated as a blue chip recruit by Tennis Recruiting Network, with a career-high ITF juniors ranking of 120. He has claimed three junior singles titles and nine junior doubles titles, currently stands as the #13 American recruit according to Tennis Recruiting Network, and holds a career-best ATP singles ranking of 1788.

Gamble explained his decision to join Illinois: "I felt it was the best place for me to keep improving as a player and a person. I really liked the team culture and the energy Coach Dancer and the staff bring every day. It felt like the right environment to grow and compete."

Nicholas Mekhael hails from Bordentown, New Jersey, also earning blue chip status from Tennis Recruiting Network with a career-high ITF juniors ranking of 308. He has won two junior singles titles along with two doubles titles, currently ranks #22 among American recruits (having reached as high as #18), and finished third in singles plus fourth in doubles at the 2025 USTA National Clay Court Championships in July. His mother, Ourania Rotou, competed in track and cross country at Southern Illinois for four years.

Mekhael stated: "I felt that Illinois was going to help me develop as not only a great tennis player but as a person in general by being surrounded by amazing leaders and teammates."