Columbia men's tennis junior Michael Zheng's remarkable journey in the NCAA Championships continues to make waves. His recent victory over Princeton's Top Nidunjianzan in the Round of 32 not only secures him ITA All-America honors for the third consecutive season but also etches his name in the program's history as the first to achieve this feat.

Zheng's Strong Start in Waco

As the No. 2 overall seed in the singles bracket, Zheng began his NCAA Championships campaign with a dominant display. In the first round on Tuesday, he posted a convincing 6 - 2, 6 - 1 win over No. 24 Jeremy Jin (Florida). This victory set the tone for his subsequent matches. On Wednesday, he followed it up with a 6 - 3, 6 - 3 win against Ivy League foe No. 84 Nidunjianzan (Princeton), securing a spot in the Round of 16 against No. 14 Thomas Paulsell (Georgia) on Thursday. His dedication and commitment have truly paid off, as highlighted by Bidyut K. Goswami Head Coach of Men's Tennis Howard Endelman '87CC. "We are so proud of Michael. Because of his dedication and commitment, he has improved and matured so much – both on and off the tennis court. Michael fully deserves every accomplishment that he earns."

Historical NCAA Singles Run

In May, Zheng's historical run through the singles bracket at the NCAA Championships was truly remarkable. He finished as the singles runner-up, becoming the first Lion to advance to the singles final in the modern era. Columbia's Robert LeRoy won the event in 1904 and 1906, and Zheng was also the first Ivy Leaguer to make the NCAA singles final since Harvard's James Blake did so in 1999. This is a significant achievement that showcases Zheng's exceptional talent and determination.

Senior Hugo Hashimoto's NCAA Debut

Senior Hugo Hashimoto made his first appearance at the NCAA Championships in singles on Tuesday. He put up a tough fight against No. 19 Trevor Svajda (SMU), battling it out to a third set. However, he fell short, and his singles run this fall came to an end. Despite the setback, Hashimoto's participation adds to the team's depth and experience.

Zheng and Hashimoto in Doubles

The 21st - ranked duo of Zheng and Hashimoto also qualified for doubles at the NCAA Championships. However, in the Round of 32 on Wednesday, they were defeated by No. 41 Youcef Rihane and Alex Bulte (Florida State) with a score of 6 - 3, 6 - 1. While the result was disappointing, their qualification itself is a testament to their partnership and skill on the court.FOLLOWING THE LIONSStay up to date on all things Columbia Men’s Tennis by following the Lions on X (@CULionsMTEN), Instagram (@culionsmten) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).