From Cary Tennis Park to the U.S. Open, how Raleigh’s Matthew Forbes’ career is taking off
Matthew Forbes was pumped, and enjoying the kind of roar from the crowd reserved for fans excited about an underdog with a chance.
The 18-year-old from Raleigh got his first taste of the men’s U.S. Open on Tuesday, and he had a few hundred fans on Court 4 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center roaring.
Playing against world No. 57 Roman Safiullin of Russia, the U.S. National 18s champion lost the first set but was up 5-3 in the second.
Waving his arms to get the crowd louder, high-fiving fans sitting behind the court, and ripping backhands down the line, Forbes looked like a good bet to make this a match to remember.
He had his sister, Abbey, and dad, Roger, watching from the stands, and even his grandmother, Joy Hodge, flew in from Smyrna, Georgia. to watch.
With all the support, Matthew Forbes made it a match but ultimately fell in in three sets, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2.
But the Michigan State freshman still had one whale of a time.
“I’d played here in juniors, but this was a totally different atmosphere and pressure,” Forbes said. “It was so nice to be a part of this, and I’ll definitely learn from it.”
A Tar Heel, then a detour
It has been a whirlwind last few months for Forbes, who grew up playing at Cary Tennis Park. In November 2023, he committed and signed to play college tennis at North Carolina, where Abbey finished her career last year after playing at UCLA, and where Roger’s rooting allegiance has been for decades.
But, in June, Forbes changed his mind and decided to de-commit from the Tar Heels.
“It was the saddest day of my life,” Roger Forbes said Tuesday. “And three days later I had the happiest day of my life, when Abbey graduated from the business school (at UNC).”
Forbes declined to go into any specifics as to why he de-committed, but Roger Forbes said it had to do with roster turnover at UNC and not feeling like it was the right fit anymore.
“I spent three weeks trying to convince him to change his mind, and I know Abbey talked to him a little,” Roger Forbes said. “But Abbey told me that ‘Dad, as sad as I am to see him not go to Carolina, at the end of the day I want him to be happy. And she was exactly, exactly right.”
Forbes visited several schools over the summer but chose Michigan State and its up and coming program, led by coach Harry Jadon.
The choice of Michigan State was not a situation where a huge name, image, likeness deal swayed him, Roger Forbes said, though he said there was “some” NIL money given his son.
“They’ve come a long way in a short time, and hopefully I can help push them further,” Matthew Forbes said.
Becoming a national champion
Then, after agreeing to become a Spartan in August (at least two dozen MSU fans were in attendance Monday), Forbes went to Kalamazoo, Michigan, for the USTA Boys National Championships.
Seeded 20th , no one expected Forbes to do much at the prestigious event, whose winner gets an automatic wild card into the U.S. Open main draw.
But Forbes ripped off seven straight wins and suddenly found himself with a conflict: Go to his first days of classes in East Lansing, or come to the U.S. Open?
It was, of course, no decision at all. He moved into his dorm last Tuesday, practiced with Michigan State teammates for four days, then flew to New York to prepare for the Open.
“It’s been a lot to take in all at once,” Forbes said with a smile. “But everything that’s happened has been amazing.”
Calin Mateas, one of Forbes’ coaches who works at Hollow Rock Racquet Club in Durham, said his charge has the killer instinct all top players need.
“He is a great fighter, and a warrior, and he has a lot of talent,” Mateas said by phone. “He’s an amazing natural athlete.”
Forbes said he fell in love with tennis “even before I started playing,” chasing Abbey, who is five years his elder, around at her tournaments.
His progress had been steady up until Kalamazoo, where he suddenly announced himself as a force to watch. Being able to stay with Safiullin, a 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinalist, gave him a lot of hope.
“Not many juniors, not many 18-year-olds can hang with someone like that,” Forbes said. “I just have to get better at not getting so mad at myself on the court. I was getting mad today when I didn’t need to.”