Columbia Student Stuns Korda at Australian Open, Risks Forfeiting $150K Prize Money

Still a college player at Columbia, Michael Zheng notches first pro win over Sebastian Korda in Melbourne – but NCAA rules could strip his entire payday.

© IZHAR KHAN / AFP

Jules Hypolite

le 19/01/2026 à 19h07

1 min to read

Korda Sebastian Moutet Corentin Zheng Michael

Still part of the U.S. college tennis program, Michael Zheng won on Sunday the very first match of his professional career on the pro circuit by defeating Sebastian Korda in the first round of the Australian Open.

A heartwarming story for the 21-year-old, who will face Corentin Moutet in his next match.

However, the Columbia University player could lose the entire prize money he earned from this victory. The 225,000 Australian dollars already promised to him far exceed the annual earnings limit a college player can receive (10,000 U.S. dollars).

“If I beat Alcaraz in the third round, I might go pro!”

With one semester left to complete, Zheng finds himself in a unique situation. He addressed the topic in his press conference yesterday:

“I’ll talk it over with our head coach and try to see what I can do about the prize money, whether I’m allowed to receive it or not. I’ve heard rumors that I can receive it because it’s my last semester.

But I want to make sure, by double-checking, that there are no eligibility issues if I do. I don’t want any trouble or anything. But you know, if I beat Carlos Alcaraz in the third round, I might consider turning pro (laughs).”