Michael Zheng, the Chinese-American who is sweeping the Challenger circuit

Andrés Tomás Rico | 15 Oct 2025 | 15.00

Michael Zheng, the American with Chinese parents who is sweeping through the Challenger circuit. Photo: Gettyimages

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The name to beat on the Challenger circuit is Michael Zheng. The American has not suffered a defeat in Challenger tournaments since August 1, although he was eliminated in the second round of the US Open qualifying. He boasts fifteen consecutive victories that have earned him three titles (Chicago, Columbus, and Tiburon). Furthermore, his story is noteworthy, especially due to his parents.

Michael Zheng began playing tennis because of his father's passion, who wanted his son to be like his idol, Roger Federer. Interestingly, his father did not pick up a tennis racket until he arrived in the United States at the age of 30 with his wife, Zheng's mother, as they both came from China in pursuit of the 'American dream'.

This is how Michael Zheng started playing tennis before becoming one of the best players on the ATP Challenger circuit

"They arrived in the United States in their late twenties or early thirties, so they have been in the country for between 20 and 30 years. It's like the American dream, I suppose," confesses the tennis player in an interview with ATP, also mentioning his father as the person who always believed in him: "He always had complete faith in me, that I could make money as a professional tennis player."

Moreover, his father was the reason he picked up a racket for the first time: "He thought I had talent. I had good hand-eye coordination and could get the ball over the net, although I had never touched a racket. He was very passionate about tennis, had a great love for this sport, and wanted to see how far I could go."

Before dominating the Challenger circuit as he is currently doing, Zheng entered the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center from high school, where the US Open is held. However, he faced the challenge of balancing tennis with his studies.

His Adolescence: Juggling Tennis and Studies

"I went there three days a week. I almost missed my last two high school classes. My parents spoke with the school, ensuring that everything went smoothly. My mom would pick me up from school and take me to the bus. I took the bus to Port Authority and then the 7 train, almost to the tennis center. Then, I made the same journey back. It was about an hour and a half round trip," states the American.

Over the years, Zheng did not give up tennis and enrolled at Columbia University, where he is in his final year. Just like when he was a teenager, he continues to seek a balance between both activities: "You talk to all your professors and assess the situation to determine what is best for playing. Then you try to catch up on work while on tour and keep in touch with your teachers to make sure everything is going well."

Benefiting from the ATP Next Gen Accelerator

Nevertheless, Zheng is fortunate to take advantage of the ATP Next Gen Accelerator, a program aimed at enhancing the development path for top players from the American university system to gain direct entry to selected Challenger events. In fact, this was how he entered the main draw of the Chicago Challenger, which he won a week later, propelling him to claim two more consecutive Challenger titles.

"Undoubtedly, it is a very useful program. It greatly encourages players to come to college and follow that path. It gives you a boost to start your career. You don't have to struggle much in the Futures; where there are always good players and you can lose at any time, and it's really tough. Also, with this program, if you then achieve a good result like I did in Chicago, suddenly your ranking allows you to enter Challenger main draws on your own. I think it's a great initiative," concludes Michael Zheng, who, between the dedication of parents who arrived in the US pursuing the American dream and his passion for tennis, is beginning to make a name for himself that may soon be heard loudly.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Michael Zheng, el estadounidense de padres chinos que está arrasando en el circuito Challenger

ATP