Baylor Tennis: Schedule, Tickets, and How Students Follow the Bears

Baylor football and basketball get the most attention — and for good reason. But if you've been sleeping on Baylor tennis, you missed one of the best postseason runs on campus in 2026. The Men's team entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11/10 seed, knocked off Tulsa, upset No. 22 Auburn, edged Pepperdine 4-3 in the Super Regionals, and pushed all the way to the NCAA Quarterfinals (Elite Eight) before falling to No. 2 Texas. That's 28 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and a Big 12 Co-Player of the Year on the roster — all with free admission for most home matches.

If you're a Baylor student and haven't found your way to the Hurd or Hawkins yet, this guide will fix that.

The Baylor Tennis Facilities

Both programs play at the Darling Tennis Center complex on Baylor's campus — a two-facility setup that handles indoor dual matches for Men's and Women's Tennis.

Hurd Tennis Center is the primary indoor venue for Men's Tennis home matches. It opened as the home of the Bears' spring dual schedule and features the kind of courts that draw national tournament hosting. In 2026, Baylor hosted the ITA National Indoor Championship at the Hawkins Indoor for the second consecutive year — a clear signal that the complex is among the best in the country.

Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center handles Women's Tennis home matches and overflow. Head Coach Joey Scrivano's squad runs all 13 of their spring home contests between Hawkins and Hurd. The courts are tournament-grade and the atmosphere during Big 12 duals can be surprisingly intense.

Both facilities are on Baylor's main campus — walkable from South Campus and a short ride from Centre's location at 1901 S 11th Street.

What Is a Dual Match (and How Long Does It Take)?

If you've never watched college tennis live, here's the format: a dual match pits two teams against each other across one doubles point (three doubles courts simultaneously) followed by six singles matches. The team that wins four points first wins the dual — so matches end as soon as one team clinches. Most run 2 to 2.5 hours, though close ones can stretch to three.

The atmosphere is nothing like professional tennis. You're close to the courts, you can hear the coaches, and the Darling complex has enough seating to feel lively without being a massive stadium show. It's a great change of pace from basketball and football crowds.

Baylor Men's Tennis: The 2026 Season in Review

The Men's program had one of its best postseason runs in years. Here's how the 2026 spring unfolded:

• Opened ranked No. 16 and traveled to San Diego for the season opener on January 13
• Won 6 consecutive home matches to close out January, including a dominant 6-1 win over Wisconsin
• Hosted the ITA National Indoor Championship at Hawkins Indoor for the second straight year
• Big 12 awards: Junior Devin Badenhorst earned Big 12 Co-Player of the Year — the sixth Bear in program history to win the award and the first since 2022. Badenhorst reached as high as No. 7 in ITA singles rankings and compiled a 12-6 dual singles record. Five other Bears earned first-team All-Big 12 honors.
• NCAA Tournament: Entered as a No. 11/10 seed, hosted First and Second Rounds at the Hurd (28th consecutive tournament berth), beat Tulsa (Round 1), defeated No. 22 Auburn 4-1 (Round 2), then edged No. 27 Pepperdine 4-3 in the Super Regionals — with Badenhorst clinching the victory in a 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) comeback on Court One. The season ended with a 4-1 loss to No. 2 Texas in the Quarterfinals at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Georgia.

That's an Elite Eight finish. For reference, only eight programs in the country made it that far.

Baylor Women's Tennis: Building Toward a Top-25 Season

The Women's program under Head Coach Joey Scrivano ran a 24-match spring schedule with 13 home contests. The team entered 2026 ranked No. 25 nationally and opened dual-match play on January 17-18 at Hawkins with home matches against Illinois and Tulane.

The recruiting pipeline is strong — Baylor's 2026 recruiting class ranked No. 21 nationally, which signals where this program is heading. The Women's team finished the 2025 season ranked No. 24 in ITA, marking the 18th top-25 finish in program history. Big 12 Conference play (typically beginning in late February) is where to catch the most competitive home matches.

How to Get Tickets to Baylor Tennis Matches

This is the part most students don't know: regular season home matches are free for students. Show up, grab a seat, and watch one of the best college tennis programs in the Big 12.

For NCAA Tournament home matches, Baylor Athletics has historically offered free admission with food and activities for early rounds. In 2026, the First and Second Round matches at the Hurd were free-entry events. Conference duals occasionally have a nominal ticket price, but the day-of logistics are simple — check baylorbears.com/tickets for the most current information on any specific match.

Practical tips for attending:

• Arrive 20-30 minutes early for good seats at high-profile matches (Big 12 duals fill up faster than you'd expect)
• Check the Baylor Athletics app or website for any same-day schedule changes — indoor matches run rain-or-shine but outdoor events occasionally shift
• For doubles, you'll watch three simultaneous courts; position yourself near Court 1 for the highest-ranked matchups
• Bring a water bottle — the courts are temperature-controlled but can get warm during packed dual sessions

When Does Baylor Tennis Play?

The spring season runs January through May, which aligns with the second semester. The fall semester features individual player tournaments rather than team dual matches — if you're curious about those, check baylorbears.com for the fall schedule. Spring is when the Bears compete as a team.

For the 2026-27 spring season:

• Men's Tennis: Follow @BaylorMTennis on X for schedule updates and match-day news
• Women's Tennis: Follow @BaylorWTennis for lineups and live match updates
• Full schedules at baylorbears.com/sports/mens-tennis/schedule and baylorbears.com/sports/womens-tennis/schedule

Big 12 Conference dual matches — typically February and March — are the most competitive and best-attended home events. Those are the dates to save.

Where Centre Fits Into the Baylor Athletics Picture

If you're following Baylor sports across the board, proximity to campus matters more than people realize. The Darling Tennis Center is on Baylor's main campus, walkable from South Campus — which means students living near campus can hit a tennis match between afternoon classes without planning a trip.

Centre is a gated apartment community at 1901 S 11th Street, walking distance from Baylor's campus. Every unit comes with washer/dryer, high-speed internet, and parking — so you're not paying extra for the things you actually use. We've seen Baylor students use the tennis complex the same way they use the track and the RV courts: built into a routine, not a special occasion.

If you want to see the floor plans or ask about availability, the floor plans page has the current options across two-bedroom and three-bedroom layouts.

The Baylor Tennis Bottom Line

A 28-consecutive-season NCAA Tournament streak. An Elite Eight run in 2026. A Big 12 Player of the Year who nearly took down the No. 2 team in the country. Women ranked in the ITA top 25 for the 18th time.

This is a program you can watch for free, in a compact on-campus venue, without navigating McLane Stadium traffic. If you've been hitting every football game and basketball game but haven't made it to the Hurd yet — the spring schedule is a good place to start.

Schedule a tour to see Centre before the spring semester, and check our neighborhood guide for more on what's close to campus.