REDS Find Silver Lining At AUTL Championships

(TRURO, NS) The UNB REDS tennis teams delivered a milestone performance at the Atlantic University Tennis League Championship Weekend at the Cougar Dome in Truro, Nova Scotia, with both the men’s and women’s teams advancing to the finals and capturing silver-medals.
Entering the playoffs as the third seed, both teams upset higher-ranked opponents in the semi-finals before facing defending champion Dalhousie in Sunday’s championship matches.
“I couldn’t be more proud of how our teams competed this weekend,” said REDS’ head coach Chris Nadeau. “They didn’t shy away from the pressure. In my eyes, every single player performed at their personal best. That’s all you can ask for as a coach.”
In Saturday’s semi-finals, the UNB men produced their strongest performance of the season in a decisive 4–1 victory over second-seeded Acadia.
UNB got singles wins from Ben Hamilton, Salman Basha, and James Farhoud-Watt, showing depth and composure across the lineup.

The REDS also secured the crucial doubles point with Hamilton and Farhoud-Watt winning their match and Basha and Peter Hebert winning theirs.

“The men played their best tennis of the year in every position,” added Nadeau. “To see that level come out in a playoff match was outstanding.”
The UNB women advanced to the final with a 5–0 team victory in their semifinal.

While circumstances limited on-court play, the result secured the program’s place in the championship match and marked another important step forward in their development this season.
In Sunday’s finals, both teams met defending champion Dalhousie.
Dal secured the women’s championship by claiming both doubles matches and the first singles contest to clinch the dual.
Despite the loss, the REDS women showed growth and resilience throughout the weekend and gained valuable championship-match experience against one of the league’s deepest programs.
The men’s championship match was tightly contested, with Dalhousie earning a narrow 3–2 victory.
UNB split the doubles matches, highlighted by a strong win from Hamilton and Farhoud-Watt.

In singles, Dal claimed two victories while Hamilton delivered a standout win for the REDS.
The narrow margin demonstrated how competitive UNB has become against the league benchmark.

“This weekend was a great stepping stone for our program,” said Nadeau. “If you compare it to track and field, our players hit their PBs. They all found ways to compete at their highest level. That’s how programs grow.”
With silver medals on both sides and significant playoff experience gained, the REDS close the 2025–2026 AUTL season with confidence, momentum, and a clear foundation to build on for next season.

STORY BY: UNB REDS

FILE PHOTO BY: Jigisha Kumari/for UNB REDS Tennis