Michael Zheng, reigning NCAA champion, claims first Challenger title

Challenger

NCAA champion Zheng claims first Challenger title

The 21-year-old makes best use of ATP Next Gen Accelerator spot

Ralph Love III/Chicago Men's Challenger Michael Zheng in action at the Chicago Challenger. By ATP Staff

The reigning NCAA singles champion Michael Zheng added an ATP Challenger Tour title to his trophy cabinet on Sunday.

The 21-year-old, who won the NCAA singles crown last November while representing Columbia University, triumphed at the Chicago Men’s Challenger. The New Jersey native downed Yu Hsiou Hsu 6-4, 6-2 in the final, avenging his previous week’s loss to Hsu at the Lexington Challenger.

Zheng was competing in the main draw via the ATP Next Gen Accelerator, a programme that aims to increase the development pathway for top players in the American collegiate system to earn direct entry into select Challenger events. Zheng used two of his eight Accelerator spots to compete in Lexington and Chicago.

Zheng fell short in his first two Challenger finals (2023 Palmas del Mar, 2025 Little Rock), yet he held his nerve to earn a milestone victory, which has propelled him more than 100 places to No. 314 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, setting him up for a new career high.

In other Challenger action, Jurij Rodionov and Tour-veteran Dusan Lajovic each claimed their eighth title at that level.

Rodionov, 26, won the Bonn Open in Germany, where he rallied past Kazakh Timofey Skatov 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in the final to collect his first Challenger trophy of 2025.

Jurij Rodionov at the Bonn Challenger. Credit: Breakpoint Images/Bonn Open

The 35-year-old Lajovic did not drop a set all week in Cordenons to win the Serena Wines 1881 - Acqua Maniva Tennis Cup "Internazionali del Friuli Venezia Giulia". The Serbian beat Lukas Neumayer 6-2, 7-6(3) in the championship match.

Lajovic’s Cordenons triumph marks his first title at any level since he won the ATP 250 in Banja Luka in 2023, when he shocked then-World No. 1 and countryman Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals en route to the title.

A full crowd watches the Cordenons Challenger final between Dusan Lajovic and Lukas Neumayer. Credit: Antonio Ros

Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak won on home soil at the Kozerki Open in Grodzisk Mazowiecki. The top seed denied #NextGenATP Dino Prizmic’s quest for a third title this season, defeating the Croatian 6-4, 6-3 in the final. The 29-year-old is up to No. 78 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, approaching his career high No. 75.

A nine-time Challenger champion, Majchrzak holds the record for most Challenger titles among Polish players (since 1978).

Kamil Majchrzak celebrates winning in front of home fans in Grodzisk Mazowiecki. Credit: Pawel Rychter

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