Zheng, who saved a match point in Thursday’s final qualifying round, played a five-deuce match to take a two-set lead, with his defense and his passing shots requiring Korda to raise his level. Korda did so, and when he blanked Zheng in the fourth-set tiebreaker, all the momentum seemed to be on his side.
But it was Zheng who got the first break of the fifth set for a 3-2 lead, and he showed no sign of nerves even when he had to save a break point in each of his next two service games. The three-hour, 43-minute match ended anticlimactically, with Korda double-faulting twice after falling behind 15-30, saving Zheng from the pressure of having to serve out the match.
Zheng will face No. 32 Corentin Moutet of France in the second round after the 26-year-old left-hander defeated Tristan Schoolkate of Australia 6-4, 7-6(1), 6-3.
Only 11 Americans were scheduled for Sunday, but 20 will participate on Monday (tonight in the United States).
Sunday first round Australian Open results of Americans:
Yannick Hanfmann (DE) d. Zachary Svajda[Q] 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(3)
Michael Zheng[Q] D. Sebastian Korda 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(0), 6-3
Alexander Bublik[10] D. Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
Frances Tiafoe[19] D. Jason Kubler[Q](AUS) 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2
Francisco Comesana (ARG) d. Patrick Kypson[WC] 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Emilio Nava D. Kyrian jacket[WC](FRA) 6-2, 7-5, 6-7(5), 4-6, 7-6(6)
Caty McNally D. Himeno Sakatsume[Q](JPN) 6-3, 6-1
Olga Danilovic d. Venus Williams[WC] 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4
Hailey Baptiste D. Taylor Townsend[LL] 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3
Coco Gauff[3] against Kamilla Rakhimova (UZB)
Amanda Anisimova[4] in Simona Waltert (SUI)
Jessica Pegula[6] against Anastasia Zakharova (RUS)
Emma Navarro[15] against Magda Linette(POL)
Sofia Kenin[27] v Peyton Stearns
Ann Li against Camila Osorio (COL)
Alycia Parks against Alexandra Eala (PHI)
Elli Mandlik[WC] against Anna Bondar (HUN)
McCartney Kessler against Emiliana Arango (COL)
Iva Jovic[29] v Katie Volynets
Mackenzie McDonald[LL] against Alex de Minaur[6]
Student Ten[25] v Marcos Giron
Martin Dam against Valentin Vacherot[30](MA)
Brandon Nakashima[27] v Botic van de Zandschulop(NED)
Tommy Paul[19] v Aleks Kovacevic
Reilly Opelka against Nicolai Budkov Kjaer[Q](NOR)
The University of Virginia was dealt a major, albeit unsurprising, blow in late 2025 when ITA Rookie of the Year Rafael Jodar of Spain decided not to return to the Cavaliers for his sophomore year.
The blow was softened somewhat by the arrival of former ITF Junior number 1 Andres Santamarta Roig, also from Spain, who joined the team this month. But how he would fit there and how the returning players would adjust to a higher position in the lineup were big questions for college tennis fans.
The only point Virginia lost to the Horned Frogs was in doubles; in today’s match, Texas earned a win over newcomer Abel Forger over Santamarta on Line 2. Even without Keegan Rice, who didn’t play today after the No. 2 win against TCU, Virginia avoided any drama, picking up singles victories over Dylan Dietrich on Line 1, Jangjun Kim on Line 3, and Mans Dahlberg on Line 4.
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