ORLANDO, Fla. – Michael Zheng's run in the 2023 NCAA Singles Championships came to an end Wednesday afternoon with a loss in the round of 16.
The first-year who earned All-American status by advancing to the singles round of 16 met Michigan's Ondrej Styler in Wednesday's matchup. The two went back and forth in the first set before Styler won the tiebreaker to secure the first set. Zheng took an early 3-0 lead in the second set, but Styler fought back to force another tiebreaker. Styler again won the tiebreak to finish off the match win.
Zheng posted back-to-back wins Monday and Tuesday to earn his spot in the round of 16. He defeated Texas Tech's Olle Wallin 6-2, 6-0 in the round of 64 Monday afternoon. Zheng followed that up with a three-set 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 win over Michigan's Gavin Young on Tuesday.
By advancing to the round of 16, Zheng adds the All-American honor to a list of achievements this season that includes being named the Ivy League Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Ivy in singles and doubles. Zheng became the first player in Ivy League history to win all four awards in one season. He also is the first first-year in program history to be named an All-American.
"We are extremely proud of Michael," Bidyut K. Goswami Head Coach of Men's Tennis
Howard Endelman said. "To be an All-American as a first-year Columbia student is a wonderful accomplishment."
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