KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- As a freshman Jannik Opitz went 25-9 in singles play and 26-8 in doubles for a total of 51 wins in his first year of collegiate tennis. But there was one win that he didn't get that set him on the path to greatness.
 
April 29, 2017 – The 2017 Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship between Western Michigan and Buffalo is deadlocked at 3-3. What started outdoors at WMU's Sorensen Courts has now moved inside to West Hills Athletic Club due to rain. Far from the balcony where spectators stand to watch the match at West Hills, Opitz is battling with Buffalo's Ethan Nittolo. The MAC Tournament Championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament is riding on the outcome of No. 6 singles.
 
With all the other matches in the books, fans have long abandoned the balcony and a crowd of spectators and the two teams surround court six. Opitz takes the first set 6-3 but Nitollo takes the second 7-6 after a 7-2 tiebreaker. The third set also heads to a tiebreaker, with Nitollo winning narrowly, 7-6 (7-5), and handing the Bulls the Championship.
 
The tall, redheaded young man from Hildesheim, Germany, took it hard but would get his revenge.
 
"It was pretty hard the first two weeks after that match because, being a freshman and feeling like you were the guy who kind of lost it in the end was pretty hard mentally," explained Opitz. "As soon as I got back on the court back in Germany I was super excited to get better and come back even stronger."
 
The next season the two teams met again in the MAC Tournament Championship and it was Opitz who clinched the title for the Broncos, defeating Villhelm Fridell 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1 at No. 2 singles.
 
"That really helped me to see that there is both ends," said Opitz. "Sometimes you're the guy who loses it and sometimes you're the guy who wins it in the end and wins it for the team. Stuff like that is super motivating, probably better motivation than if you just win the championship in your first year."
 
It was after that sophomore season that head coach Dave Morin thought Opitz had the potential to be a record-breaker.
 
"Coming in as a freshman I knew he was a very skilled player," said Morin. "But probably after his sophomore year when he went 30-10 in singles at the top three singles position within our lineup I knew he had a chance."
 
A lot of greats have come through under Morin. Seven of the top 10 on the all-time wins list, including Opitz, were coached by the 11-time MAC Coach of the Year.
 
What separates Opitz from some of those best?
 
"Consistency in his daily approach," said Morin. "And a long-term vision of wanting to play professional tennis after he's finished with college."
 
Opitz stands at an imposing 6-foot-5. The big left-handed serve, ability to finish at the net with his amazing hands and size led him to be in the position to become the all-time wins leader last season and then COVID happened. Opitz and WMU's season came to an end with eight regular season matches left, not including MAC Tournament and the potential of the NCAA Tournament. If his career ended then, he still would have been one of the all-time greats at WMU. A two-time First Team All-MAC selection, the 2019 MAC MVP, two MAC Tournament Championships and all with the potential to add more if the season had played out.
 
But Opitz got a second chance. The NCAA gave all athletes that competed in spring sports another year of eligibility.
 
"It was a little tougher decision than some would think," said Opitz. "You have to see what you're going to do and what you're going to study. I had finished my bachelors degree already so I couldn't come back and just do another major. I had to check to make sure I could do another bachelor degree or maybe start my masters. I always wanted to play another year because I didn't want to finish and end my college career with the way it ended. It took some time and Coach Morin tried to help me a lot and I think I made the right choice to come back for another year."
 
That choice has Opitz just one win away from tying Michael Calderone's (2007-11) top mark of 216 and two away from passing it.
 
But it's not all athletic achievements for Opitz. He's also one of the most decorated WMU men's tennis players of all time in terms of academic achievement. Last year he joined Jeff Brink (1996-2000) becoming only the second men's tennis player in program history to be twice named a COSIDA Academic All-American. He's also a two-time Academic All-MAC selection and a four-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar Athlete.
 
"The most impressive thing about Jannik is that he has excelled as a student and a tennis player," added Morin. "He graduated with a 4.0 from the Haworth College of Business and is a two-time Academic All-American as well as the program's soon to be all-time wins leader. We are very proud of his achievements."
 
SCHEDULE CHANGE
The Broncos had a busy week ahead of them but that has changed. WMU and Wayne State will be playing just one match on Wednesday at 1 p.m., with the second match of the double-header being canceled. Due to COVID issues within the Butler men's tennis program, this Friday and Saturday's matches against the Bulldogs have also been canceled.
 
ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan returns to action with three matches in three straight days starting on Friday, March 5. WMU opens the weekend hosting Cleveland State at 2 p.m., then welcomes Drake at 12 p.m. on Saturday and caps off the weekend hosting Youngstown State on Sunday at 10 a.m.