Razorback men's tennis team makes NCAA tournament despite program cut

The Razorback men's tennis team will keep their season going, as they were selected for a spot in the NCAA tournament. However, this run is set to be their last as a program.

The team will compete in the Fort Worth regional. They're set to face off against Cornell in the opening round on Friday. This is their first appearance in the tournament since 2024.

All of this comes as University of Arkansas Athletics announcedon April 24 that it was discontinuing the men's and women's tennis programs at the end of the 2026 spring season.

"After considerable reflection and thoughtful discussion, we have made the very difficult decision to discontinue our men’s and women’s tennis programs,” Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek said in a release. “We understand the disappointment and emotion this news will bring to many. Ultimately, we concluded that we are unable to provide the level of support necessary for our tennis programs to consistently compete in the SEC and nationally at the standard our student-athletes, coaches, alumni and supporters deserve."

"The love for the for the school, the love for the program, the love of being a Razorback is worth everything" said longtime head coach Robert Cox, who led the men for 26 years and brought home over 300 wins for the program.

The University hosted a watch party Monday for the NCAA tournament selection show. Players and tennis alumni were invited to rally around the teams.

Cox found out the news just like everyone else on April 24.

"It was a gut punch," he said.

Like many others, he wanted to see more notice from the university.

"I was shocked, very angry, very mad at the way it went down. It shouldn't have gone down like that," said Cox. "And just to tell two coaches that their programs are cut and then turn around and tell the student athletes that your programs are cut right before the men's teams going to the NCAA championships is, I just can't believe that. I'm embarrassed and shocked and insulted"

He said he is feeling for the hundreds of players he's guided and those who are currently in the program.

"For these Razorbacks, who love to play tennis, and they love to represent the Arkansas, it's got to be a gut punch for them too, that they can't stay here. They have to find a new home. They've got to transfer. They got to get out of their leases. They'll end up being okay. But I know they want to be here," said Cox.

He said he wanted the university to reach out and hear other options to keep the program running.

"'Can we talk to you about how we can raise some money and fund this men's and women's tennis programs.' That's what they should have done. They shouldn't have taken the cowardly way that they did and spring it on them when we didn't have any voice. There's no due process, and that's what hurts. It's insulting to us," said Cox. "We had 71 years of men's tennis here, and it's just a huge insult. 46 years of women's tennis to not even ask us for help. We would have been there, and it would have come. I'm sure of it."