Michael Zheng, a 22-year-old American wildcard, marked a significant milestone by claiming his first Grand Slam victory at the US Open. Zheng, who transitioned from college tennis to the professional stage, triumphed over Fabian Marozsan with a straight-sets win of 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in the opening round. His performance was noteworthy as he broke Marozsan five times and secured 92% of his first-serve points, wrapping up the match in just under two hours. This victory not only propelled Zheng into the world’s top 100 in the live rankings but also held personal significance, as he trained at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during his formative years in New Jersey.
Zheng’s rise in tennis has been swift over the past year. After qualifying for the Australian Open and achieving his first tour-level win, he reached the third round at Wimbledon, demonstrating his growing prowess on the court. In the next round of the US Open, Zheng is set to face China’s Yunchaokete Bu. Meanwhile, Ben Shelton also progressed after a hard-fought win against Hubert Hurkacz, winning 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5 in nearly three hours. Shelton’s victory ensures his streak of reaching at least the third round in New York for the fourth consecutive year remains intact.
Frances Tiafoe upheld his strong form at the US Open by defeating Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto 6-3, 7-6 (2), 7-5, advancing to the third round for the seventh year in a row. In the women’s draw, Jessica Pegula, the third seed, secured a swift victory over former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, winning 6-3, 6-1 in just 56 minutes. Pegula is set to face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the next round.
Additional successes for the American players include Taylor Townsend, who delivered a commanding performance with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Australia’s Taylah Preston. Emma Navarro, Iva Jovic, and Alex Michelsen also advanced to the next round. However, it was not a successful day for all, as former US Open champion Sloane Stephens was defeated by Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, and wildcard Sebastian Gorzny fell to 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev.
The American players showcased their potential and resilience at Flushing Meadows, with Zheng’s breakthrough into the top 100 and continued progress from Shelton and Tiafoe highlighting a day of strong performances.