Michael Zheng has marked a significant milestone in his tennis career by transitioning from college tennis to achieving his first Grand Slam victory at the US Open. The 22-year-old American wildcard defeated Fabian Marozsan with a score of 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in the opening round. An alumnus of Columbia University and a two-time NCAA singles champion, Zheng displayed a commanding performance, breaking Marozsan five times and winning 92% of his first-serve points. The match lasted just under two hours, with Zheng’s triumph celebrated by an enthusiastic home crowd.
This victory holds special meaning for Zheng, who trained at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as he frequently traveled from New Jersey during his childhood. His win not only adds a Grand Slam victory to his achievements but also propels him into the world’s top 100 in the live rankings for the first time. Zheng’s swift rise over the past year includes qualifying for the Australian Open and reaching the third round at Wimbledon. In the next round, he is set to face Chinese player Yunchaokete Bu.
Meanwhile, Ben Shelton showcased his resilience by overcoming Hubert Hurkacz in a four-set battle, winning 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5. The eighth seed’s victory ensures he maintains his record of reaching at least the third round at the US Open for the fourth year in a row. Frances Tiafoe also demonstrated impressive consistency with his seventh consecutive third-round advancement at the US Open, defeating Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto 6-3, 7-6 (2), 7-5.
In the women’s singles, third seed Jessica Pegula swiftly moved past former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 win in just 56 minutes. Pegula’s next opponent will be Canada’s Leylah Fernandez. Additionally, Taylor Townsend advanced with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over Australia’s Taylah Preston, while Emma Navarro, Iva Jovic, and Alex Michelsen also progressed to the next round.
However, the day did not fare well for everyone, as former US Open champion Sloane Stephens was defeated by Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, and wildcard Sebastian Gorzny lost to 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev. Despite these setbacks, the American contingent experienced a strong day overall at Flushing Meadows, highlighted by Zheng’s entry into the top 100 and the continued success of players like Shelton and Tiafoe.