Columbia University’s Michael Zheng won back-to-back national singles titles to cement his legacy as one of the greatest ever collegiate tennis players.
Columbia University senior Michael Zheng has firmly established himself as one of the greatest collegiate tennis players of all time.
The 21-year-old secured his legacy in November by claiming back-to-back national championships in men’s singles. He defeated SMU’s Trevor Svajda in a thrilling three-set match to become the first repeat champion in over a decade. That victory also made him the all-time winningest player in NCAA singles tournament history with 19 match wins.
His initial title came in April during the 2024–25 championship match overcoming Michigan State’s Ozan Baris in three sets to become Columbia’s first NCAA singles champion of the modern era. Zheng was the inaugural singles winner under the NCAA’s new two-year pilot program that separates Division 1 fall and spring tennis seasons.
The 6’2” psych major made his professional debut last year and has already begun making his mark with a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 180 in October. His professional journey is highlighted by three ATP Challenger titles won in 2025 – Chicago, Columbus, and Tiburon. While Zheng has yet to reach a major’s main draw, he has twice reached the second round of qualifying for the US Open.
Raised in Montville, New Jersey, Zheng commonly skipped his last middle and high school classes to train at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. In 2021 he secured the state singles tennis championship for Delbarton School before taking his talents to the Ivy League.
Zheng’s parents Joe and Mei emigrated from Hubei, China. He was introduced to tennis by his father who began playing after arriving in the U.S.
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