Photo by: Courtesy of the USTA
Michael Zheng Advances to NCAA Singles Final
11/22/2025 2:12:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Zheng is looking to become the ninth player to win back-to-back singles crowns
ORLANDO, Fla. – Columbia men's tennis senior Michael Zheng, a four-time All-American, will make his third trip to the NCAA singles final after defeating Princeton's Paul Inchauspe, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 in the semifinals on Saturday at the USTA National Campus.
Zheng is looking to become the ninth player in NCAA history to win back-to-back national championships, the first since USC's Steve Johnson in 2011 and 2012.
"Happy to be back in the finals for the third year," Michael Zheng said. "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."
Zheng took control of the match in the very first game. He held serve, going up 1-0 without surrendering a point. After Inchauspe held serve to tie the set up at 1-1, Zheng went on a four-set run, twice breaking serve to take a commanding 5-1 lead.
Inchauspe, the junior from Princeton, cut the deficit, winning two games, but Zheng closed out the set holding serve to win it 6-3.
In the second set, Inchauspe turned the momentum in his favor and raced out to an early 3-1 lead in the second set. He was leading 5-2 but could not break Zheng's serve to put the set away. Zheng won three-straight games to tie the set at 5-5 before Inchauspe could close it out 7-5, forcing a third and final set.
Zheng immediately took the momentum back in the third. He broke serve to go up 1-0 and held serve to take a 2-0 lead. Leading 3-1, Zheng essentially put the match away, breaking serve again to take a 4-1 lead. From there, he held on to take the set and the match 6-2.
Zheng will return to action tomorrow at 11 a.m. when he takes on SMU's Trevor Svajda in the title match. Svajda advanced to the finals after defeating NC State's Martin Borisiouk, 6-2, 6-0 in the other semifinal. Sunday's match will be streamed on ESPN+.
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Zheng is looking to become the ninth player in NCAA history to win back-to-back national championships, the first since USC's Steve Johnson in 2011 and 2012.
"Happy to be back in the finals for the third year," Michael Zheng said. "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."
Zheng took control of the match in the very first game. He held serve, going up 1-0 without surrendering a point. After Inchauspe held serve to tie the set up at 1-1, Zheng went on a four-set run, twice breaking serve to take a commanding 5-1 lead.
Inchauspe, the junior from Princeton, cut the deficit, winning two games, but Zheng closed out the set holding serve to win it 6-3.
In the second set, Inchauspe turned the momentum in his favor and raced out to an early 3-1 lead in the second set. He was leading 5-2 but could not break Zheng's serve to put the set away. Zheng won three-straight games to tie the set at 5-5 before Inchauspe could close it out 7-5, forcing a third and final set.
Zheng immediately took the momentum back in the third. He broke serve to go up 1-0 and held serve to take a 2-0 lead. Leading 3-1, Zheng essentially put the match away, breaking serve again to take a 4-1 lead. From there, he held on to take the set and the match 6-2.
Zheng will return to action tomorrow at 11 a.m. when he takes on SMU's Trevor Svajda in the title match. Svajda advanced to the finals after defeating NC State's Martin Borisiouk, 6-2, 6-0 in the other semifinal. Sunday's match will be streamed on ESPN+.
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
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