Photo by: EJ Eckles
Michael Zheng Punches Ticket to NCAA Singles Final
11/23/2024 5:27:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Zheng returns to the NCAA singles final for the second straight season
WACO, Texas – Columbia men's tennis junior and three-time All-American Michael Zheng will return to the NCAA singles final for the second year in a row. Zheng finished as runner-up at the NCAA Championships back in May.
Zheng advanced to the NCAA singles final after a retirement from Timo Legout (Texas) in the first set of Saturday's semifinal match. Zheng broke Legout in the first game of the match and held serve to quickly go up, 2-0. Zheng worked another break a few games later to go up 4-1 before Legout retired.
"I'm happy to be back in the finals," Zheng said. "It was a tough loss six months ago. I'm hoping to actually get the title this time."
Zheng is now the first player to reach back-to-back men's singles finals since Steve Johnson (USC) did so in 2011 and 2012. Zheng will play to be the first men's singles champion from an Ivy League school since Lucien Williams (Yale) won in 1922. Zheng would be Columbia's first NCAA men's singles champion in the modern era. Robert LeRoy claimed the NCAA singles crown in 1904 and 1906.
Sunday's singles championship match will be a battle of two of the top returners in men's college tennis. Zheng will face Ozan Baris from Michigan State in the singles final Sunday at 12 p.m. ET. Baris powered past DK Suresh Ekambaram (Wake Forest) 7-5, 7-6(5) in the semifinals Saturday to become the first Michigan State player to ever advance to the NCAA singles final. Sunday's championship match will be streamed live on ESPN+ with live scoring available through iOnCourt.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
Stay up to date on all things Columbia Men's Tennis by following the Lions on X (@CULionsMTEN), Instagram (@culionsmten) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
Zheng advanced to the NCAA singles final after a retirement from Timo Legout (Texas) in the first set of Saturday's semifinal match. Zheng broke Legout in the first game of the match and held serve to quickly go up, 2-0. Zheng worked another break a few games later to go up 4-1 before Legout retired.
"I'm happy to be back in the finals," Zheng said. "It was a tough loss six months ago. I'm hoping to actually get the title this time."
Zheng is now the first player to reach back-to-back men's singles finals since Steve Johnson (USC) did so in 2011 and 2012. Zheng will play to be the first men's singles champion from an Ivy League school since Lucien Williams (Yale) won in 1922. Zheng would be Columbia's first NCAA men's singles champion in the modern era. Robert LeRoy claimed the NCAA singles crown in 1904 and 1906.
Sunday's singles championship match will be a battle of two of the top returners in men's college tennis. Zheng will face Ozan Baris from Michigan State in the singles final Sunday at 12 p.m. ET. Baris powered past DK Suresh Ekambaram (Wake Forest) 7-5, 7-6(5) in the semifinals Saturday to become the first Michigan State player to ever advance to the NCAA singles final. Sunday's championship match will be streamed live on ESPN+ with live scoring available through iOnCourt.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
Stay up to date on all things Columbia Men's Tennis by following the Lions on X (@CULionsMTEN), Instagram (@culionsmten) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
Highlights: MTEN | National Championship Highlights
Sunday, November 23
Postgame: MTEN | Michael Zheng on winning the NCAA singles championship
Sunday, November 24
Postgame: MTEN | Michael Zheng on advancing to the singles final at NCAA Championships
Saturday, November 23
Postgame: MTEN | Michael Zheng on advancing to semifinals at NCAA Championships
Friday, November 22
