The last five years for Elon Men’s Tennis have been a span of success. The Phoenix won its first Coastal Athletic Association Championship in 2019. The team has been to three more finals since, including an appearance last year after a 16-8 season. This was all under the guidance of former head coach Michael Leonard, who held the position for 20 years.
But after the conclusion of the 2023- 24 season, Leonard decided to retire from collegiate coaching, leaving an opening of no small stature. Following a two-decade coaching legacy, new men’s tennis coach Maciek Sykut has big shoes to fill.
“Previous coaches at Elon have built a great foundation,” Sykut said. “It’s up to me to try to continue on what’s already been built.”
Sykut adds a plethora of experience to the Phoenix team. The former pro played for three years on the Association of Professional Tennis tour, reaching a career high doubles ranking of 145. After leaving the pro-circuit, Sykut became an assistant for the North Carolina State University and University of Arizona tennis team. In 2020, he joined the staff at Duke University, where the team competed in the NCAA tournament four times during his tenure at Duke.
To kick off Sykut’s first season as head coach, the Phoenix have opened with a 2-5 record. The early season has been headlined by losses against the No. 16 ranked University of Tennessee and a 0-7 sweep against Old Dominion University. However, Elon was able to pick up a 5-2 win against Coastal Carolina on Feb. 28. Sykut has been encouraged by the energy his players bring to the table.
“We have a great group of kids,” Sykut said. “They’ve been very receptive to working hard and trying to strive for more.”
That group of players has a variety of collegiate experience. Veljko Krstic, a junior, plays at the top of the team’s lineup for the team. Fellow junior Oskar Antinheimo, who was last year’s team MVP, also plays in the Phoenix top three.
While older players with veteran experience still hold high positions, Elon has benefited from younger contributions. Freshman Rafael Ymer, a newcomer to the team, has played well at #2 singles for the Phoenix. Jack Curtis, a sophomore from England, regularly plays at #4 singles.
“They certainly were eager for that challenge,” Sykut said. “They’ve responded to it well.”
Ymer and Curtis have opened the 2025 season strong. Both have won three singles matches so far. However, the young pair share only one doubles win, a trend for the entire team.
Elon currently holds a 4-12 doubles record over six games, with the #1 pairing of Krstic and Antinheimo only achieving one collective win. For the Phoenix, victory on the doubles court is crucial.
This CAA men’s tennis season will conclude at home for the Phoenix, as Elon will host the CAA tournament at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. It’s a moment Elon’s first-year head coach looks forward to.
“It’s obviously a fantastic opportunity,” Sykut said. “We look to take advantage of that.”
Elon last hosted the men’s championship in 2022. It’s an opportunity the team is excited for. Although the start for Elon has not been perfect, Sykut hopes the culture of hard work on-and-off the court he’s been building will pay off.
“We’re building the habits,” Sykut said. “Habits required to do what we need to be victorious in the end.”
The team hopes to utilize those habits when the CAA comes to town in April.