Rally the Facts: 5 points to know before Wisconsin opens the season in DeKalb

Friday, January 16

Delkalb, IL

10 AM

Wisconsin Badgers

Missouri

Photo by: David Stluka

Rally the Facts: 5 points to know before Wisconsin opens the season in DeKalb

January 14, 2026 | Women's Tennis

Badgers open season with doubleheader against NIU and Missouri

By: Aliza Manekia

MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin women's tennis team opens its 40th season Friday, Jan. 16 with a doubleheader against Missouri at 10 a.m. and Northern Illinois at 2 p.m. at the Nelson Tennis Center in DeKalb, Ill.

1. The Last Serve
Wisconsin heads into the season with momentum from a fall marked by historic results and strong doubles play. Maria Sholokhova and Lucie Urbanova claimed the ITA All-American Doubles Championship in September, earning All-American status. Sholokhova became the first Badger in program history since 2013-14 to capture both the ITA All-American singles and doubles titles back-to-back.

2. Scouting the Tigers and the Huskies
Missouri enters the season following a strong fall schedule that featured consistent singles and doubles success. The Tigers opened the fall at the Husker Invitational with multiple wins across the lineup, then continued that momentum at the ITA Central Regional Championship, where Korina Roso advanced to the round of 16 in singles play. Missouri closed its fall slate at the SDSU Fall Classic with multiple players reaching finals flights and several doubles teams finishing the weekend undefeated.

Northern Illinois opened its spring season at the Northwestern Invitational in Evanston. The Huskies, picked fourth in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll, finished the weekend with eight doubles wins and two three-set singles victories, showing balance across the lineup. Veteran leadership from Isabella Righi, Lucia Yecora, and Rebeca Garcia Miralles anchored NIU's doubles success, while Malika Kabdesh and Sophia Shlyakhta added key wins.

3. Badgers in the Rankings
In the first ITA rankings of the season, Maria Sholokhova opens the spring ranked No. 47 in singles, while the doubles duo of Sholokhova and Lucie Urbanova debuted at No. 5.

4. By the Numbers
Wisconsin holds an undefeated record against both opponents in Friday's doubleheader. The Badgers lead Northern Illinois 18-0 in the all-time series, with the most recent win coming in 2025 by a score of 6-1. Wisconsin leads a shorter yet undefeated series at 4-0, with the last meeting between the Badgers and Tigers taking place in 2009.

5. Up Next
The Badgers travel to Charlottesville, Va., for the ITA Kickoff Weekend on Jan. 24–25, where they will face USC and either Virginia or Rice.