On November 19, 2025, Michael Zheng did something no Ivy League man had ever done in tennis: earned his fourth All-American honor. The Columbia University senior, class of 2026, sealed the milestone with a 6-4, 6-2 win over South Florida’s Hugo Car at the Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, Texas — a venue that’s become his personal stage. But this wasn’t just another win. It was the culmination of a four-year climb that redefined what’s possible for a player in a conference that hadn’t seen a men’s singles champion since 1922.
A Legacy in the Making
Zheng didn’t arrive at Columbia as a star. He came from Delbarton School in New Jersey, where he won the 2021 NJSIAA singles title as a junior before stepping away from high school to chase a professional path. By his freshman year, he was already turning heads. But it was his 2024 NCAA Singles Championship win — a gritty 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Michigan State’s Ozan Baris — that changed everything. For the first time in over a century, an Ivy League player stood atop the college tennis world. And he wasn’t done."It definitely feels good," Zheng said after his opening match in 2025. "This has been on the back of my mind since earning All-American honors my freshman year." That mindset — quiet, relentless, focused — has defined his career. He didn’t celebrate the past. He built on it.
The 2025 Run: Precision Under Pressure
The 2025 NCAA Singles Championship wasn’t just a tournament for Zheng — it was a test of endurance, mental toughness, and consistency. He opened play on November 17 with a tight two-set win, then advanced through the quarterfinals on November 20 and semifinals on November 21. His semifinal against Inchauspe was the kind of match that separates legends from greats. After dropping the second set, Zheng reset. He held serve without surrendering a single point to go up 1-0 in the deciding set. Then came four straight games — two breaks of serve, no mercy. He led 5-1. The crowd fell silent. He didn’t flinch."Happy to be back in the finals for the third year," he said after sealing his spot in the championship match on November 22. "It’s a testament to all the work that’s been put in and support I have received from our coaches and athletic department at Columbia. After losing the second set, I just reset and was mentally prepared to give one hundred percent for every point in the third set."
That final — against an unnamed opponent — would determine whether he became the first back-to-back NCAA singles champion since USC’s Steve Johnson in 2011 and 2012. Only eight players in NCAA history have done it. Zheng, at 21, was poised to become the ninth. And the first from an Ivy League school.
More Than Just Titles
Zheng’s résumé reads like a textbook of excellence. In 2025, he was named the ITA National Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award recipient — a rare honor that recognizes character as much as skill. He’s a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year (2023, 2025), a three-time First Team All-Ivy Singles selection, and a 2025 CSC Academic All-American, confirmed by Columbia Athletics on June 4, 2025. His 2024-25 season? A 41-1 record. One loss. One season. One legacy.He also earned a wildcard bid to the 2025 U.S. Open after his 2024 title, and represented Team USA at the 2024 Master’U BNP Paribas Championship in Reims, France, alongside three Columbia teammates. In April 2025, he led the Lions to their first Ivy League team title since 2019, defeating Harvard and Yale in decisive fashion. Even in defeat — like their Elite Eight loss to No. 1 Wake Forest on May 16, 2025 — Zheng carried himself like a captain, not a casualty.
Why This Matters Beyond Columbia
The Ivy League has long been seen as an academic haven, not a tennis powerhouse. But Zheng’s rise flips that script. He didn’t just win. He redefined what’s expected. Before him, no Ivy League player had earned even three All-American honors in men’s singles. Now, he’s the first with four. His success has sparked conversations across NCAA Division I: if a student-athlete can balance rigorous academics, elite training, and national competition in the Ivy League, why not elsewhere?His journey also echoes the quiet revolution in college tennis — where players like Zheng, who forgo early professional tours to complete their degrees, are proving that the traditional path still holds value. He didn’t leave college to chase rankings. He stayed to build a legacy.
What’s Next?
The NCAA Singles Final on November 23, 2025, looms large. If Zheng wins, he’ll be the first Ivy League player to win back-to-back titles, the first to hold the crown for two consecutive years since Johnson. He’ll also become the first American college player since 2012 to do so — a gap of 13 years."I’m just happy to get through the round of 16 and just take it one match at a time," Zheng said after his fourth All-American nod. That humility is what makes him extraordinary. He’s not chasing headlines. He’s chasing excellence — one point at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Ivy League players have ever earned four All-American honors in men’s tennis?
None. Michael Zheng is the first in the 140-year history of Ivy League men’s tennis to earn four All-American honors. The previous record was three, held by several players, but none had reached the fourth. His achievement breaks a barrier that had stood since the conference’s founding.
What makes Zheng’s 2024 NCAA title so historic?
Zheng’s 2024 victory was Columbia’s first NCAA singles title ever and the first for any Ivy League school since 1922, when Harvard’s Francis B. Rives won. No player from the conference had won a national singles title in over a century — making Zheng’s win not just personal, but institutional.
Has any other player won back-to-back NCAA singles titles recently?
The last player to win consecutive NCAA singles titles was USC’s Steve Johnson in 2011 and 2012. Since then, no player has repeated as champion, despite several close attempts. Zheng’s 2025 run puts him in rare company — one win away from joining Johnson as the only two players in the last 13 years to achieve it.
What role did Columbia University’s coaching staff play in Zheng’s success?
Columbia’s coaching staff, led by head coach David Taylor, created a program focused on mental resilience and long-term development rather than short-term wins. Zheng credits them for helping him stay grounded during high-pressure moments, especially after his 2023 runner-up finish. Their emphasis on academic-athletic balance also helped him maintain eligibility and avoid burnout.
How did Zheng qualify for the 2025 NCAA Singles Championship?
Zheng secured his spot by winning the Ivy League Qualifier Tournament on October 27, 2025, defeating three top-seeded opponents. He was officially named an ITA All-American on May 27, 2025, based on his season performance and ranking, which guaranteed him automatic entry into the NCAA field.
What impact has Zheng had on other Ivy League athletes?
Zheng’s success has inspired a new wave of tennis recruits across the Ivy League. Schools like Princeton and Yale have reported increased interest from high school players seeking academic-athletic balance. Coaches now cite Zheng as proof that elite tennis and Ivy League education aren’t mutually exclusive — they can be complementary.