NEW YORK -- The atmosphere was electric on Court 10 at the U.S. Open on Wednesday as New Jersey's Michael Zheng made his mark in his first main-draw match at this prestigious Grand Slam. The former Columbia University standout showcased his talent in front of a supportive crowd, including his college teammates, who donned light blue to cheer him on.
“Let’s go, Mike,” they shouted, rallying behind the two-time NCAA singles champion from Montville, New Jersey.
Zheng faced Hungary’s Fábián Marozsán and emerged victorious with a convincing score of 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, securing his place in the second round set for Thursday. The match marked a significant milestone for Zheng, who closed it out with a powerful forehand winner up the line, highlighting his impressive performance.
Throughout the match, Zheng demonstrated his skill and composure, clocking a serve at 124 mph and achieving 33 winners against 17 unforced errors. His first serve was particularly effective, winning 36 out of 39 points, a remarkable 92% success rate, often followed by a commanding forehand.
This match was a rematch of their previous encounter at the Cincinnati Open last month, where Zheng also triumphed over Marozsán in a tightly contested three-set battle.
Due to rain delays, Zheng's first-round match was postponed, giving him little time to rest before facing his next opponent, China’s Yunchaokete Bu. Bu, who entered the main draw as a Lucky Loser, shocked the No. 12 seed Rafael Jodar of Spain with a stunning 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 victory. Their match is scheduled for Thursday on Court 12, not before 4 p.m.
Zheng's victory is part of a broader trend of success for American men at the tournament. Notably, No. 8 seed Ben Shelton advanced after defeating Hubert Hurkacz in a four-set match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, while Alex Michelsen achieved an upset over fellow American Brandon Nakashima in straight sets on Grandstand.
This summer has been particularly fruitful for Zheng, who reached the third round at Wimbledon before falling to No. 4 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime. His performance at Wimbledon earned him nearly $250,000 in prize money, marking a significant achievement in his young career.
After facing setbacks in the U.S. Open qualifying rounds for the past two years, Zheng was granted a Wild Card into the main draw this year, an opportunity he has seized with both hands.
In the first set of Wednesday's match, Zheng broke serve after a rain delay to take a 4-3 lead and closed out the set with a solid serve at 6-4. The second set saw him rally from a 0-3 deficit, breaking back twice and showcasing his skill with a brilliant backhand lob winner to regain control at 4-3. He again maintained his composure, finishing the set 6-4.
In the third set, Zheng broke Marozsán's serve for a 3-2 lead and continued to dominate, breaking again for 5-2 before sealing the match with a confident service game.
Columbia Athletic Director Peter Pilling, who was present to support Zheng, noted the impressive turnout of Columbia fans, calling it a “Sea of Light Blue.” Zheng’s journey at the U.S. Open continues to inspire his supporters and highlights the growing talent emerging from American tennis.
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