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It’s no surprise many of Syracuse’s opponents this season south of the Mason-Dixon line host their home matches outside. Syracuse, known for its notoriously cold weather, doesn’t fall under that category. The Orange play every home match in the climate-controlled environment of Drumlins Country Club.

Drumlins is always room temperature, with no wind and perfect humidity. The Orange, who have spent hours upon hours practicing in the facility, know exactly how the ball will bounce or fly.

But outdoor courts are the opposite, posing notable differences players have had to adjust to. Syracuse’s final two regular-season matchups come against Georgia Tech and Clemson in Drumlins’ friendly confines. Afterward, it must brave the elements at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships on April 14 in Cary, North Carolina.

The weather is the most notable change. Sunshine, wind and humidity all add elements of randomness to any given match.

The sun can prove to be a major issue while serving. Sunlight can reflect off the surface of the court, per Mo Tennis Training, leading to potential misjudgments of trajectory and increased errors. Wind can also affect players’ shots, encouraging players to lean into the randomness and incorporate more spin shots, according to SportsEdTV.

Both of these effects were felt early in the Orange’s season, when they traveled south to Florida to face Florida Atlantic and Florida International. The weather — especially the wind — was a significant factor against FIU, where Syracuse was swept 7-0.

“I’m glad we played some outdoor tennis,” SU head coach Younes Limam said, reflecting on the Florida trip.

Temperature also plays a role. While it’s always room temperature indoors, the heat outdoors causes exhaustion. Cold air also makes the ball bounce less, per Colgate tennis player Tim Vargas.

The combination of these elements usually makes indoor tennis go much quicker. Players like Anastasia Sysoeva dominate because of their agility and speed, traits SportsEdTV says are more advantageous indoors.

Additionally, different equipment is used in different conditions. Players typically prefer to string their rackets tighter indoors due to the faster pace of matches, according to All Star Tennis Supply. For Syracuse, which can only practice outside in the early fall, summer or late spring when it’s warm enough, it can be tough to adjust to using different equipment.

SU has had its fair share of experience outdoors during the regular season. Syracuse went 1-3 in North Carolina, getting swept by No. 5 North Carolina, No. 22 Duke and No. 14 NC State. The Orange have gone a measly 2-7 on the road, posting an even worse 1-7 in matches played outdoors.

Syracuse needs to acclimate to the unpredictability of outdoor tennis. In every outdoor match so far, SU has taken too long to adapt. The Orange haven’t won a doubles point outdoors this season, leading to deficits that have almost always been insurmountable. The lone exception was a 4-3 comeback victory over Wake Forest on March 27.

Although SU has played a brutal ACC schedule, with most of its away matches played outside, its match against bottomfeeder Florida State on April 5 suggests playing outside might be an uphill battle for Syracuse.

The Orange proved they can dominate basement-level ACC teams on Feb. 28, regardless of whether they’re on the road or not. In a match at Boston College, Syracuse started strong and never looked back, sweeping the Eagles 5-0 for its first conference win.

Just a month later, SU lost the doubles point to FSU en route to a crushing 4-2 defeat.

So, how could Syracuse dominate Boston College on the road, then fall flat to the Seminoles a month later? The main difference: the match versus the Eagles was played indoors.

Despite the differences in playstyle and season-long struggles, Syracuse’s Emma Scaldalai doesn’t believe the change in courts messes with SU’s game. She cited past experiences in International Tennis Federation tournaments, where she and her teammates would consistently match up on different surfaces.

“We know how to do that,” Scaldalai said. “We know how to adjust, and we’ve been doing that for our whole life.”

With the ACC Tournament in under two weeks, the Orange have no more road matches to prepare for outdoor tennis. A season ago, Syracuse proved it could make a run in the ACC Tournament, upsetting Clemson in the second round before falling to Georgia Tech.

The only question left is whether or not lightning can strike twice.

Disclaimer: Toph McWilliams attended Duxbury High School with Tim Vargas. His experience did not affect the editorial content of this article.

Published on April 8, 2026 at 11:41 pm
Contact Toph: cemcwill@syr.edu