Udwadia Announces Signings of Badon, Elicha Navas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Head coach Jay Udwadia has officially announced the signings of Jean-Baptiste Badon and Gabriel Elicha Navas. Badon and Elicha Navas are set to join the Hogs this spring for the 2025 dual season.

Badon joins the Razorbacks as a JUCO transfer from Glendale Community College in Glendale, Calif. Badon, a former top-20 prospect and 5-star recruit according to Tennis Recruiting Network, recorded a historical freshman season at Glendale CC and finished with a 29-2 overall singles record along with several conference and national accolades.

During the 2023 fall season, Badon was crowned the men’s singles champion at the 2023 ITA CCCAA Men’s SoCal Regional Championships after receiving the top-seed at the event in addition to only dropping six games in his four matches played. Badon qualified for the ITA Cup Super Bowl after becoming the first-ever California Community College player to claim the JUCO singles title at the ITA Cup. Badon defeated the DII and NAIA champions in the Super Bowl draw en route to securing a wild card entry into the ITA National Fall Championships in San Diego.

Badon led Glendale CC to an 18-4 record during the spring season as the team reached the SoCal Regional Final for the first time since 2005 and finished No. 2 in the final ITA CCCAA rankings. Badon ended the dual season undefeated and was named the Western State Conference co-Player of the Year while obtaining the WSC tournament singles title. Badon completed his remarkable season by winning the CCCAA Men’s Individual State Championship, becoming the first player from Glendale CC to win the state singles crown since 2011.

After the conclusion of the dual season, Badon continued to collect CCCAA and ITA accolades as he closed the year as the No. 1 ITA CCCAA ranked singles player and ended the spring No. 7 in the final doubles rankings with Andy Zau. Badon was awarded the 2023-24 ITA Rookie of the Year at the JUCO level in addition to being named to the 2024 ITA Collegiate All-Star Team and receiving ITA CCCAA All-American honors.

Elicha Navas comes to Fayetteville from Spain with career-high ATP rankings of No. 1135 in singles and No. 1412 in doubles. Elicha Navas holds a 23-17 singles record in 2024 and has a combined 60-52 singles record in men’s professional events over the last four years. At the M15 Monastir in July, Elicha Navas earned two victories in the qualifying draw and three in the main draw before falling in the singles semifinal. Elicha Navas has also picked up six doubles wins this year and most recently reached the doubles semifinal at the M15 Melilla in September.