Inspired Ivy: American Michael Zheng Continues Wimbledon Break-Out Run
Qualifier Michael Zheng has delivered a Grand Slam break-out performance at SW19.
Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, July 2, 2026
Photo credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty
Wimbledon—Lush ivy covers the outer Centre Court wall.
It’s a reminder that grass is the only Grand Slam surface that lives and dies during the major fortnight.
Ivy League standout Michael Zheng grew up playing on New York City’s hard courts and continues his impressive growth on Wimbledon’s grass.
The 2022 Wimbledon boys’ finalist and two-time NCAA champion at Columbia, Zheng qualified for his third straight Grand Slam at Roehampton last week.
Tennis ExpressThis week, the 22-year-old Zheng has shown poise under pressure—and sharp serving—navigating two marathon wins to reach his maiden Grand Slam third round.
“The goal in qualifying was just to make main draw, I think, and just get a chance to play on the main courts here,” Zheng said. “I think ever since I played in juniors it was always a big goal to come back and play at Wimbledon. I am just trying to play free from now on and keep the run going.”
It’s been a resourceful run for Zheng, who grew up in Montville, New Jersey and spent his younger years training in Queens. As a teenager, Zheng sometimes took three bus trips a day traveling from his Montville home to Queens to train.
Now, he’s riding the best tennis trip of his young career.
The 144th-ranked qualifier out-dueled former Wimbledon semifinalist Cameron Norrie 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-3, 7-6(10-4) on No. 2 Court to win his Wimbledon main-draw debut on Monday
At the outset, British fans were chanting “Let’s Go Cam! Let’s Go Cam!”
By the end of that pulsating four-hour thriller, fans were shouting “Michael! Michael!” saluting the American baseliner for the finest performance of his pro career. In that win, Zheng rapped 21 aces and saved five of six break points versus former TCU standout Norrie in a match that exuded the partisan passion of American college tennis.
On Wednesday, Zheng zapped 20 aces and saved all 12 break points he faced fighting off Nicolas Mejia 6-7(4), 7-6(8), 6-1, 6-4 in a three hour, 49-minute comeback.
Tennis ExpressThough the slender, 6’2”, 160-pound Zheng does not look physically imposing, his timing, technique, fearless shot making and raw commitment under pressure have propelled him to his best Grand Slam result.
“I would say the serve has improved a lot and that’s always been a big goal ever since I got to college,” Zheng told Tennis Now. “You know the serve and return are the two most important shots. It’s been a big goal to get the serve and return better. And it’s gotten better.
“Of course, there were periods were I didn’t serve as well, but after every practice it was always a goal to hit a few extra serves. So I think all of that work is kind of paying off now.
“Definitely unexpected. I haven’t played on grass much and now we’re in the third round. I’ve been playing some of my best tennis. I think I’m just peaking at the right moment so I look to play free from here on out. I have nothing to lose and just try to make it even deeper.”
It’s a demanding transition from best-of-three-set, No Ad scoring of college tennis to best-of-five-set Grand Slam tennis, but Zheng says the mental challenges are greater than physical rigors.
“I think it’s just the extra [challenge] even when you win that first set you know you have to play a couple of more sets,” Zheng said. “So I’d say it’s more tough probably mentally more than anything else.
“You try to keep focused, you have three or four hours every match. I think the physical effect is more the day after, two days after and trying to manage that. But during the match, it’s more try not to give your opponent anything. Your opponent isn’t gonna give you much. So just trying to be as solid as possible and not give any free points, I think, is the toughest part.”
Qualifying for three Grand Slams on three different surfaces in the space of six months is a tough task for anyone, particularly as Zheng twice failed to qualify for his hometown Slam at the US Open.
Tapping into his inner toughness earned Zheng a nickname from fellow American Frances Tiafoe.
Tennis Express“I’ve been calling him Ivy’s Finest,” Tiafoe said at the Australian Open. “The whole thing is hilarious to me.”
“By the way, love Mike. Mike is just funny, man. He’s so chill and relaxed about the whole thing, because you got to think from his lens. The guy has got zero pressure, and he’s good. He’s just a good player. I practiced with him one time last offseason, not this one. We had an absolute battle.”
Clad in a royal blue Columbia t-shirt and a pair of white Yonex flip flops, a relaxed Zheng talked to a trio of American journalists after his second-round win, while British fans all over the grounds were engrossed by England’s World Cup comeback win on Wednesday night. Zheng, who arrived at SW19 with about $502,303 in career prize money, has already earned about $247,000 with his third-round run this week.
“Growing up, you always see three, four, five-hour matches. And you’re thinking: How do these guys make it through?” Zheng said. “And even some of the matches in college are pretty physical as well. I find myself getting tired in two out of three sets.
“So going to these tournaments, you’re playing three-out-of five. You’re playing three-out-of-five in practice sets. So yeah, it’s more mental than anything else I think. You’re playing for so much and there’s a lot on the line so you have a little bit more to give.
“The points are generally not as long on grass so it’s a little bit easier for these longer matches. It’s just not as many rallies, getting a lot of free points off the serve, the opponents are getting a lot more free points off the serve. There’s not as much—compared to hard or clay—those 20 or 30-shot rallies consistently. So I think it’s a little bit easier.”
The road to his first Grand Slam second week comes with a massive obstacle in round three when Zheng faces third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime, the 2025 US Open semifinalist, on Centre Court tomorrow for a coveted spot in the round of 16.
“I grew up watching him,” Zheng said. “I’m excited. I hope we get a good court and just give as good of a match as possible.”
American Iron Mike Russell, the 2024 ATP Coach of the Year for his work with Taylor Fritz, made history 25 years ago as the first man to successfully play through four consecutive Grand Slam qualifying tournaments to reach the main draw of all four majors.
If the 144th-ranked Zheng continues growing his game, it’s unlikely he’ll need to qualify for Flushing Meadows in August.
Zheng said the secret to his successful transition from college to the pro circuit is fueled by the power of self belief.
“I think the goal of every match I play is to win,” Zheng said. “So having that self-belief—kind of backing yourself against anyone you play—even if it means kind of tricking yourself to believe that you can win when the stats don’t say that.
“But I think I just go into every match believing I can win. When I step on the court having a little bit of an underdog mentality, fighting for every point and just leaving it all out there.”
Get Tennis Now in your inbox
Daily match reports, interviews and Tennis Now TV — free, every morning.
