Michael Zheng, a 22-year-old American and former NCAA singles champion at Columbia University, has made headlines by clinching his first Grand Slam victory at the US Open. Zheng, who received a wildcard entry into the tournament, defeated Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, in the opening round. The victory, achieved in less than two hours, was fueled by Zheng’s powerful performance, which saw him break his opponent’s serve five times and win an impressive 92% of points on his first serve. This win is particularly meaningful for Zheng, who spent his formative years training at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and it has propelled him into the top 100 of the live rankings for the first time.
Zheng’s ascent in the tennis world has been rapid over the past year. He previously made his mark by qualifying for the Australian Open and securing his first tour-level win, as well as reaching the third round at Wimbledon. His next challenge at the US Open is against Chinese player Yunchaokete Bu. Meanwhile, other American players also enjoyed success at the tournament. Ben Shelton advanced to the next round after a hard-fought victory over Hubert Hurkacz, winning 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5 in a match that lasted nearly three hours. This victory continues Shelton’s streak of reaching at least the third round in New York for the fourth consecutive year.
Frances Tiafoe also maintained his impressive track record at the US Open. He secured a spot in the third round for the seventh straight year by defeating Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto, 6-3, 7-6 (2), 7-5. In the women’s tournament, third seed Jessica Pegula swiftly overcame former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, winning 6-3, 6-1 in just 56 minutes. Pegula is set to face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the next round. Taylor Townsend joined the list of American victors with a commanding 6-1, 6-1 win over Australia’s Taylah Preston. Emma Navarro, Iva Jovic, and Alex Michelsen also progressed further in the competition.
However, the day was not without setbacks for some American players. Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens was defeated by Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, and wildcard entry Sebastian Gorzny fell to 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev. Despite these losses, the overall performance of the American contingent at Flushing Meadows was robust, highlighted by Zheng’s breakthrough into the top 100, as well as the continued success of Shelton and Tiafoe.
