Get to know our 2023-24 FDU men's tennis newcomers!

Tauras Mickus - Hails from Radviliskis, Lithuania and has been a member of the Lithuanian national team in multiple age divisions.  He has trained at the Siauliai Tennis Academy located in Šiauliai, Lithuania, and also spent some time training at the Montemar Tennis Academy located in Alicante, Spain.  Tauras has achieved a career high ITF Junior Ranking of 564.       
 
Some of his recent accomplishments include: 
 
In singles in 2022 Tauras was a finalist at the ITF J5 in Tallinn Estonia in April, a semi-finalist of the ITF J5 in in Siauliai Lithuania in October, quarter-finalist of the ITF J5 in in Siauliai Lithuania in July, and a quarter-finalist of the ITF J4 in Tallinn Estonia in the summer.  
 
In 2022 in doubles Taurus was a finalist of the ITF J5 in Siauliai Lithuania in October, semi-finalist of the ITF J5 in Siauliai Lithuania in July, finalist of the J5 in Aizkraukle Latvia in October, finalist of the J4 in Ventspils Latvia in May, semi-finalist of the J5 in Tallinn Estonia in April, quarter-finalist of the J4 in Tallinn Estonia in the summer, quarter-finalist of the J4 in Aizkraukle Latvia in April, and quarter-finalist of the J3 in Aizkraukle Latvia in April.   
 
Matias Neira - Hails from Bogotá Columbia.  Matias has trained at several academies in Bogotá Columbia including: Centro de Alto Rendimiento, Academia JM Tenis, and Academia Rincón Tenis.  He has also trained at MAC Tennis Academy in Boston, Massachusetts in the United States.      
 
Matias reached a career best Junior South American Tennis Confederation (COSAT) ranking of 57.  His highest U16 singles national ranking was #17 and his highest U16 doubles national ranking was #3.  In the U18's Matias achieved a Colombian State ranking of #2.  Matias was the Regional U16 and U18 "Interclubes" (Junior club association tournaments) champion in 2017, 2018, 2019 in Cundinamarca. 
 
Matias was a quarterfinalist at the U18 National L1 singles tournament in Bogotá Colombia in 2022.  At the U18 National L2 in Medellín in 2022 Matias placed 4th in singles and was a finalist in doubles.  At the 2021 U18 National L2 in Barranquilla, Colombia Matias was the champion in both singles and doubles.      
 
Matias has competed in ITF tournaments ranging from J1-J5 in multiple countries including Columbia, El Salvador, and Ecuador. In 2022 in Doubles Matias was champion at the ITF J5 in Salinas Ecuador, a quarter-finalist at the ITF J5 in Guayaquil Ecuador, quarterfinalist at the ITF J4 in Salinas Ecuador, quarter-finalist at the J5 in El Salvador, and a quarter-finalist at the ITF J5 in Ibague Colombia.
 
We look forward to welcoming Matias back to the U.S.   
 
Andrew Nicolae - is from Nazareth, Pennsylvania.  He attended Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland as a full-time student in 2022-2023 and was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team.  As a junior player he was ranked in the top 10 of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Middle States rankings.  In a one-year span Andrew climbed the national Tennis Recruiting Network (TRN) rankings to a high 3 star recruit from a low 2 star.     

Andrew won an 18's level 4 sectional tournament in Pennsylvania in singles and was a quarter-finalist in doubles at the ITF J5 in Medford, USA.  He was a main draw participant in both singles and doubles at the USTA Boys 18 National Clay Court Championships in Delray Beach, Florida.   
Andrew has trained at Centercourt Tennis Academy in Chatham, New Jersey and has trained full time with top ITF players and top national juniors on a daily basis.

Asaf Schwartz - is from Kfar Sava, Israel but the last two years has been training at the PM Academy in Neuchatel, Switzerland.  Asaf has achieved a career high ITF Junior Ranking of 650.  In 2022 in singles, he was a quarter-finalist at the ITF J5 in Kreuzlingen Switzerland and quarter-finalist at the ITF J4 in Ramat HaSharon Israel.  In 2021 in singles, he was a quarter-finalist at the ITF J3 in Nicosia Cyprus and quarter-finalist at the ITF J4 in Raanana Israel after making it through the qualifying draw.  
 
In doubles in 2022 Asaf was a semifinalist at the ITF J4 in Ramat HaSharon Israel and a quarter-finalist at the ITF J3 in Sierre Switzerland.  In 2021 in doubles, he was a semi-finalist at the ITF J5 in Paralimni Cyprus, the ITF J4 in Limassol Cyprus, and the ITF J5 in Potchefstroom South Africa.
 
Tyler Crook - hometown is East Orange, New Jersey.  In 2022-2023 Tyler was a standout tennis player at the FDU Florham campus.  He was named 2023 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Rookie of the Year for the entire league and was selected to the All-MAC Freedom First Team for 2023.  Tyler was the team's #1 singles player in the spring season and had a 6-1 conference record and 8-2 overall record in singles.  Tyler also played the #1 doubles position and also had a 6-1 conference record in doubles.     
 
"This group checks all the boxes; grit, talent, passion, work ethic and determination to succeed on and off the court. We are super excited for the energy they will bring and can't wait to start our season," said head coach Jeff Brandes.