Columbia’s Michael Zheng Upsets Korda at Australian Open as NCAA Rules Cloud $150,000 Payday

The 21-year-old two-time NCAA singles champion faces Corentin Moutet next under eligibility limits that restrict student prize money.

Overview

Zheng, 21, defeated Sebastian Korda 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(0), 6-3 after earning his spot with three wins in qualifying for his first Grand Slam main draw.
Tournament payouts indicate roughly $150,000 for a qualifier reaching round two, but NCAA policy generally limits college athletes to retaining $10,000 per year from prize money.
Zheng said he intends to finish his final semester at Columbia and will consult his coach about what prize money he can accept without jeopardizing eligibility.
A lawsuit led by Reese Brantmeier seeks to overturn the NCAA cap on prize-money retention, with a trial not expected until late 2026.
Next up for Zheng is France’s Corentin Moutet in the second round in Melbourne.