AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 18, 2026

Michael Zheng

Press Conference

M. ZHENG/S. Korda

6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Michael Zheng. First of all, congrats, Michael. This is your Grand Slam main draw debut, and you won it in a really exciting way. Can you share your thoughts and emotions?

MICHAEL ZHENG: Yeah, I mean, just really happy to get through this match. Definitely not easy drawing a fellow American and a former top-20 player in Sebastian Korda.

Yeah, I was just really happy with the level today. I came out really, I think, pretty hot, two sets to love. I was just trying to stay focused and maintain the level.

I thought he was serving really well down the stretch of the third and fourth. I was just trying to refocus. First time playing a five-set match.

I just stay focused and try to hold and keep it going. So happy to get it done and get into the next round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What did you learn I guess about yourself physically and mentally, especially being up two sets and having to find yourself in the fifth and still pulling it out? You look like you were doing well, so how was this whole five-set experience for you?

MICHAEL ZHENG: I mean, I think in the fourth I was starting to feel it in the legs a little bit on the serve, but then just found a second wind in the fifth.

Honestly, I'm feeling better than I thought than I would now, but I'm sure tomorrow I'm going to be a little bit sore. I'm going to try and stay on top of the recovery, go see the physio after, and just do the best I can to recover in the next two days and get ready for the second-round match.

Q. Have you ever played more than three sets in a singles, in a practice, or anything before?

MICHAEL ZHENG: I don't think I've ever played more than three. Down in Florida in preparation for the Australian Open, they had a three-out-of-five, but I lost in straights, so I didn't get a chance to play five.

Q. Can you compare playing, I guess, what, six weeks ago at this point, maybe two months ago now, NCAA tournament versus playing this, like in front of that crowd and in this complex and how you sort of just have veered from one end to the other kind of seamlessly?

MICHAEL ZHENG: Yeah, I mean, for sure. I think the NCAAs definitely prepared me for moments like these. I feel like when you are playing for college, you're playing for something bigger than yourself. So there's a lot of people supporting you. You really want to win for yourself, but also for your school.

I actually felt more nervous I think going into the finals of NCAAs than this match, surprisingly. But, yeah, I think it shows college tennis is a real pathway to the pros.

There's so many guys. I think Arthur Fery also won his first-round match today. There are so many guys that are starting to, you know, reach that next level, and I think college tennis is a real pathway. I think my win today proves that, as well.

Yeah, I mean, I think it prepared me really well for today and the nerves and the physicality and everything.

Q. Did you start to giggle when they were chanting your name, people who probably - like, no offense - had probably never heard of you this morning when they woke up? All of a sudden they're, like, the "Let's go, Michael" chant.

MICHAEL ZHENG: It was, honestly, an unbelievable atmosphere. I didn't expect so many fans to be out there. I think it was pretty much a packed stadium. I think, yeah, it just gave me energy in the fifth when I think I raised my level a little bit.

The fans were starting to go crazy and just gave me that extra, I think, push to kind of close it out.

Q. What is your current status in terms of college, in terms of prize money, turning pro? You're still in college, right? So still eligible?

MICHAEL ZHENG: Yeah.

Q. How do you navigate that? I feel like it's gotten blurrier than it used to be in some ways in terms of the line between turning pro and staying in college?

MICHAEL ZHENG: Yeah, for sure. I still have one more semester at Columbia, which I do intend to finish. So whenever my run here is done, I'm going back to school.

But, yeah, I'll talk to our head coach and try to figure out what's the deal with the prize money, if I'm allowed to take it or not. Yeah, I'll try to figure that out after the tournament is over, I think.

Q. Do you have any sense about how much prize money you'll be able to leave here with?

MICHAEL ZHENG: I don't know. I've heard rumors I'm allowed to take it, because it's my senior spring, but I want to make sure to double-check and make sure there's nothing wrong with eligibility if I take it. I don't want to get in trouble or anything.

So, yeah, I'll talk to Howie, our head coach, and I'll try to figure that out after.

Q. Is there a certain round you'd make you think where the decision would be tougher?

MICHAEL ZHENG: You know, if I beat Carlos Alcaraz in the third round, you know, maybe then I'll consider turning pro (laughing).

Q. So we know now that you have looked ahead at the draw to see where you are. In the fifth set it looked like you were just taking rips on his serve and kind of looking for an opening. Did you tell yourself, just kind of go for broke here?

MICHAEL ZHENG: Yeah, I mean, he was serving so well in the fourth and making so many first serves. I didn't really get my racquet on many returns. So I was thinking, I was like, when I get a second serve opportunity, I'm just going to, yeah, as you said, I'm just going to go for it. I have nothing to lose.

A lot of the pressure is on him, so I'm just going to try to put that pressure, make the return, and try to start the point on the offense. That was kind of the mentality going into the fifth.

Q. I would like to know your opinion, your thoughts, psychology student, about the mental health. How do you see that situation? Maybe the players need more help, because it's a discussion in the last couple of years. What are your thoughts? How important studying that in moments like this?

MICHAEL ZHENG: I would say the psychology I'm studying in school isn't really sports psychology. I don't know how related it is.

It's more just, like, peer reviews and reviewing studies, the previous studies that have already been done. But, you know, I think just playing tennis, I think playing competitive matches has kind of prepared you for moments like this. This is kind of what you work for.

I think Billie Jean said it best, "Pressure is a privilege." This is what you work for. It's just a privilege to get a chance to step on Kia Arena for your first-round match at a Grand Slam, main draw match at a Grand Slam. Yeah, I'm just happy to get it done.

Q. You've just been sort of, it seems like from a distance, rising smoothly through the different levels and formats. Is there anything where you've had a match yet that you think, wow, there's still a big gap that I need to close? Maybe if you play Alcaraz, I don't know, or has it so far been like you feel like you belong at each additional stair you've stepped up so far?

MICHAEL ZHENG: Yeah, I mean, so far I've gotten the opportunity to hit with some of the top American guys down in Florida. There's a lot of great players down training in Boca and Orlando where I like to train in the offseason.

Yeah, I would say the level in college is really high. Even beyond that, it's more so when you play those guys, I think it just gives you that confidence.

You're right there. You know, there's some intangibles they may do better than you, but overall you're right there. You're losing close, and it just comes down to a few points here and there, more execution than anything.

Sometimes it comes down to just the game style. One guy might counter another guy or counter you, and then you might do well against another player. But, yeah, I think the level is a lot closer.

You know, just the past results the past couple of months have shown that. So, yeah, I think the level is really close. You know, maybe when I play Alcaraz, there's even one more step above. I haven't got the opportunity to see that, but hopefully I get the opportunity, so we'll see.

Q. What is your living situation in Columbia? Do you go from here back to, like, one of those brownstones on 113th Street? I live on 114th, so I think we're in the same neighborhood.

MICHAEL ZHENG: I'm actually living on the dorms on campus, so it's, yeah, 116th. Rent in New York is a little bit expensive for students. I'm living in a suite with one of my teammates, another golfer, and three other regular students that I've known since sophomore year.

Yeah, I think it's a good living situation. We have our own kitchen and everything. It's easy to get around on campus. I think everything is walking distance, so it's great.

Q. In terms of you winning a match in a main draw of a Grand Slam over a player like Korda, how much swag does this bring to Ivy League sports?

MICHAEL ZHENG: I mean, we'll see. Yeah, I mean, I've gotten a lot of texts from teammates, on Instagram, people from Columbia following me on social media. So we'll see when I get back to campus. I don't know. Maybe some people will congratulate and everything.

But, yeah, I mean, at the end of the day, kind of a regular student at Columbia. There are a lot of amazing people there. So, yeah, just try to stay humble and just try to finish school and then give pro tennis a shot.

Q. How many credits and classes do you have left for your degree?

MICHAEL ZHENG: I think I need 15 credits this semester. Maybe four or five classes depending on the credit per class that I have to take. I still need to sign up for a couple more classes and try to get that done during the first two weeks of our shopping period. Yeah, I think four or five classes I think I need to take.

Q. Did you promise your parents you would finish?

MICHAEL ZHENG: That's right, yeah.

Q. Did the semester already started?

MICHAEL ZHENG: It's starts the 20th, so starting soon, next couple of days.

Q. You're going to miss some classes then by making it to the second round?

MICHAEL ZHENG: Yeah, I will.

Q. I wanted to ask about your Chinese family background. How is your Chinese language skill right now? Do you have some Chinese player friends?

MICHAEL ZHENG: Yeah, I mean, I think most of the Asian players are pretty good. I think just in general most players on tour at this level are pretty good friends. You kind of know everyone on tour.

I would say my Chinese -- both my parents came from Hubei, but my Chinese used to be better I think when I was going to Saturday Chinese school. I haven't practiced as much the last couple of years, so I think I've lost a lot of my ability to speak Chinese.

But I think if I went back to China, I would be able to get around basics, but I think having small talk would be a little difficult, I think.

Q. Did you get a chance to go back to your hometown in China?

MICHAEL ZHENG: Not for a long time. I think the last time I was back I was 6 or 7 years old, so it's been a long time. You know, hopefully during the China swing in this coming fall, maybe I get a chance to go back.

Q. What town in New Jersey?

MICHAEL ZHENG: Montville.

Q. Montville?

MICHAEL ZHENG: V-i-l-l-e.

Q. Bergen?

MICHAEL ZHENG: Morris County.