KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan State University incoming freshman Matthew Forbes will be no stranger to winning in the state.
Forbes, who is from Raleigh, North Carolina, is the 2024 United States Tennis Association’s 18 Boys national champion. He played a long four sets for the title in Kalamazoo against New York’s Jack Kennedy.
“It’s amazing for my confidence going into the fall tournament,” Forbes said. “It’ll give me many opportunities that I don’t know I’d get if I didn’t make this far, or even win it. So, it’s amazing.”
Forbes won the first two sets, 6-3 and 6-3, but Kennedy made things interesting in the third. He prevented the sweep after winning a couple of long points to take set three, 6-4.
The fourth set was even longer. Kennedy led 3-1, but Forbes came back to tie it at five. He then won the next two games for the championship title.
Not only were the sets long, but the day felt long. The 18 Boys’ championship match didn’t start until about two hours later than scheduled. Forbes credits his new teammates for keeping him motivated and making the waiting game fun.