Michael Zheng Secures Bid to NCAA Singles Championships

Thursday, November 6

Chapel Hill, N.C.

All Day

Columbia University

ITA Sectional Championships

Photo by: EJ Eckles

Michael Zheng Secures Bid to NCAA Singles Championships

11/9/2025 2:39:00 PM | Men's Tennis

?The reigning national champion secured a berth by advancing to the semifinals of the ITA Masters

SAN DIEGO – The reigning NCAA Singles Champion, Michael Zheng, secured his berth to defend his crown on Saturday. The native of Montville, N.J., won two matches at the ITA Conference Masters at the Barnes Tennis Center.

Playing in just his second match of the fall season for Columbia, Zheng opened the tournament with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Mikalai Bankou. Bankou jumped out to an early lead in the opening set, but Zheng rallied for the straight-sets win.

In the quarterfinals, Zheng faced off against Elon's Velkjo Krstic. The winner of that match was guaranteed one of the spots in the 64-player NCAA Championships, which starts later this month in Lake Nona, Fla. Zheng battled his way to a tight win in the opening set, winning 7-6(7-6). He made quick work of Krstic in the second set, winning 6-1.

At the ITA East Sectional Championships in Chapel Hill, N.C., Sachin Palta came up just short of securing a berth at the NCAA Singles Championships. Palta won his opening round matchup over second-seeded Lucas Andrade da Silva from South Carolina, winning 6-2, 6-1.

In the round of 16, Palta fell to UNC's Niels Ratiu. Palta lost the opening set 6-3, but took the second set 6-3 before falling 6-2 in the third and final set.

Nicolas Kotzen had a strong run in the consolation bracket before pulling out in the consolation final. In the round of 32, Kotzen was upset by NC State's William Manning, falling 6-3, 7-6(7-2), 7-6(7-5).

In the consolation round of 16, he bounced back with a straight-sets win over Liberty's Ben Sparks, winning 6-1, 6-2. After a bye, Kotzen defeated Princeton's Sebastian Sec 7-6(7-4), 6-3.

Zheng will find out his draw on Saturday, Nov. 15, when the NCAA announces the brackets at 6 p.m. ET. The first round of the NCAA Singles Championships begins on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

ITA MASTERS RESULTS
Thursday Main Draw
R32 Michael Zheng (Columbia) BYE
R16 Michael Zheng (Columbia) def. Mikalai Bankou (South Carolina State), 6-4, 6-3

Friday Main Draw
QF Michael Zheng (Columbia) def. Veljko Krstic (Elon), 7-6(7-6), 6-1

ITA EAST SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS
Thursday Main Draw
R32 William Manning (NC State) def. Nicolas Kotzen (Columbia) 6-3, 6-7(2-7), 7-6(7-5)
R32 Sachin Palta (Columbia) def. Lucas Andrea de Silva (South Carolina), 6-2, 6-1

Friday
Main Draw
R16 Niels Ratiu (UNC) def. Sachin Palta (Columbia), 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
Consolation Draw
R16 Nicolas Kotzen (Columbia) def. Ben Sparks (Liberty), 6-1, 6-2

Saturday
Consolation Draw
QF Nicolas Kotzen (Columbia) def. Sebastian Sec (Princeton), 7-6(7-4), 6-3

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