TULSA, Okla. — Jay Friend etched his name into Arizona Tennis history, becoming the first Wildcat ever to capture the ITA All-American Championships title. With the victory, Friend joins past champions such as John Isner and Ben Shelton—both now among the ATP's top 10—marking a milestone moment for Arizona Tennis.
The nation's No. 5 player delivered a dominant start to the 2025–26 season by claiming the main draw crown, which also secures him an automatic berth in the NCAA Singles Tournament later this year.

Friend's path to the title showcased both grit and elite talent, as he recorded three top-10 victories—defeating No. 7 Ozan Baris, No. 9 Dylan Dietrich, and No. 4 Aidan Kim—to become the first Wildcat to hoist the All-American trophy. His rise reflects years of development alongside head coach Clancy Shields, who has guided Friend into one of the nation's premier players.

"What Jay just accomplished is the pinnacle of college tennis — winning the All-American Championship, one of the most prestigious national titles in our sport." said Head Coach Clancy Shields.  "He capped off the event beating 3 top 10 opponents and became the first national champion in Arizona program history. I couldn't be more proud of Jay, his process throughout the 8 day event, and the quality of his play the last couple days. Congratulations Jay, way to bring home a national title!"

The NCAA Individual Championships will be held Nov. 19–24 in Orlando, Fla., where Friend will look to continue his historic run on the national stage.