Add The New York Post on Google Michael Zheng waited 22 years to be part of the U.S. Open’s main draw.
Another day and a few more hours wasn’t going to bother him.
The former Columbia tennis star and Montville, N.J., native made the most of his Flushing Meadows debut.
In a match that was pushed back a day, and then delayed a few more hours after seven games were played because of rain, Zheng made sure to take advantage of his moment.
Michael Zheng in action against Fabian Marozsan during a Men’s Singles match on Day Four of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Wednesday, September 2, 2026 in Flushing, NY. USTA via Getty Images In front of a Columbia-heavy crowd on Court 10 that included his college teammates, Zheng notched the first U.S. Open main draw victory of his young career, taking out Hungarian Fabian Marozsan 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.
The match was on serve in the first set when the rain hit. When play resumed, the 22-year-old Zheng quickly took control by breaking Marozsan’s serve. The Hungarian looked poised to even the match at one set apiece, leading 3-0. But Zheng responded by reeling off five straight games and never looked back.
He finished the 1-hour, 51-minute match with 33 winners, only 17 unforced errors and nine service aces, pleasing the large crowd that frequently chanted his name between points.
Zheng was a champion at Columbia, becoming the first Lion since 1906 to win the NCAA singles title in 2024. He also became the first Ivy League player to claim that crown. In November, he was the NCAA’s first repeat singles winner in 13 years. This year has been even better for him. He made his debut in the main draw of a major at the Australian Open in January, and upset Sebastian Korda. He won three matches to advance to the main draw of Wimbledon and reached the third round — no reigning NCAA singles champion had gotten that far at the All England Club since 1981.
Michael Zheng reacts against Fabian Marozsan during a Men’s Singles match on Day Four of the 2026 US Open. USTA via Getty Images That run was highlighted by a shocking victory over Cameron Norrie, the highest-ranked Brit, in a five-set thriller.
“You grew up watching [these tournaments] on TV, so there’s still a little bit of that shock factor,” Zheng told The Post’s Howie Kussoy previously. “But I think I’m starting to feel like my game is really becoming more solid, and I’m able to compete with the top players at this level. I think this just reinforces the belief that I have the ability to play at the top level and compete with some of the best players out there.”
He was given a wild card to this year’s U.S. Open after losing in qualifying the previous two summers, and now he has advanced. Up next: China’s Yunchaokete Bu on Thursday afternoon.
“It always feels kind of like home,” Zheng said of playing at the U.S. Open. “It’s just a comfortable feeling. You have a bunch of friends and family that come out to watch and support. It’s almost like playing in your backyard. It’s always been a place you hoped to be able to play one day.”
