MELBOURNE – Michael Zheng, a Columbia University student and one of the surprises of the Australian Open, is clear about his short-term goal: finishing his studies. There is, however, one exception — a win over Carlos Alcaraz would change everything.
“If I manage to beat Carlos Alcaraz in the third round, maybe I’ll consider turning professional,” said the North American, world No. 174, who defeated fellow countryman Sebastian Korda in his Grand Slam main-draw debut.
Born in New Jersey, Zheng will begin his final semester of a Psychology degree on January 20, one day before his second-round match against Corentin Moutet. He has already informed the Ivy League university that he will miss the first few weeks.
“I think the NCAA definitely prepared me for moments like this. When you play for a university, you’re playing for something bigger than yourself. You don’t just want to win for you, but also for your school,” he said after his 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (0-7), 6-3 win over the former world No. 15.
The 21-year-old, who lives on campus with five roommates (“renting an apartment in New York is very expensive for a student!”), admitted that the stage and context he encountered on Sunday in Melbourne were a source of motivation.
“This is what you work for. Billie Jean King said it best: ‘Pressure is a privilege.’ It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to step onto the Kia Arena for your first Grand Slam match,” he said.
His situation is so unusual that he is not even sure whether he will be able to collect all the prize money he earns at this Australian Open.
The NCAA has strict rules regarding how much money student-athletes can earn in professional competitions: if they accept more than $10,000 in profit per season, they risk losing eligibility or scholarships.
“I’ll talk to my coach to figure it out, because I’ve heard rumours that I might be able to take it since it’s my final semester, but I want to make sure I check everything properly,” Zheng said.
One of the brightest prospects in US tennis, Zheng closed out 2025 by winning three consecutive Challenger titles on home soil — in Chicago, Columbus and Tiburon.
He promised his parents he would finish his studies — unless he keeps advancing in Melbourne and manages the daunting task of knocking out the world No. 1 in the early rounds of a Grand Slam.
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