Former pro Jim Courier expressed his amazement as American college tennis player Michael Zheng delivered one of the most eye-catching moments of the 2026 Australian Open, pulling off a five-set upset and forcing renewed attention on the outdated rules that limit what amateur athletes can earn.
Courier highlighted how extraordinary it was that a player still competing in college tennis could already look so prepared for the professional stage, backed by a carefully assembled support system that bridges the gap between the NCAA and the ATP Tour.
Jim Courier Spotlights the Support System Behind Michael Zheng’s Australian Open Run
Zheng’s breakthrough came in the first round at the Australian Open, where the 21-year-old qualifier stunned former quarterfinalist Sebastian Korda, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 6-3, to secure his first tour-level win. It was also the first five-set match of Zheng’s career and his debut at the ATP level.
The victory pushed him into the second round against France’s Corentin Moutet and instantly made him one of the most talked-about stories of the opening days.
Yet the win also came with a frustrating caveat. Despite earning about US$100,000 for reaching the second round, collegiate rules limit him to keeping only $10,000 because of his amateur status. For a player still enrolled at Columbia University and studying psychology, the moment highlighted the tension between college tennis and the modern professional game.
Courier addressed that contrast directly during a Tennis Channel panel discussion, offering insight into why Zheng already looks so comfortable on a Grand Slam stage. “Yeah well he has his coach Howard Endelman who’s done an amazing job building the program at Columbia,” Courier said, emphasizing the foundation Zheng has built in college.
Despite there being 25 players with collegiate ties in the #AO26 main draw this year, none of them can take home prize money. 💰🚫
Does the NCAA need to update their rules? pic.twitter.com/UaHQHuDjya
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) January 18, 2026
He added that Endelman’s network has played a crucial role, noting that the Columbia coach knows “a lot of people including a guy who went to the business and law school of Columbia named Mario Ančić. You might remember beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon.”
According to Courier, Ančić has served as a mentor to Zheng, adding a high-level perspective to his development. Courier also noted that Zheng has worked with Larry Stefanki, the former coach of John McEnroe and Andy Roddick. “So he is getting a nice group of people around him to help him kind of find his way from the collegiate ranks to the pros where he is on his way soon,” Courier said.
He closed with a line that captured the disbelief shared by many watching in Melbourne. “But this kid’s still in college. That’s what’s crazy. It’s wild how good he is already. And this is amazing that he’s in the second round here.”
Why Is Zheng’s Breakout Run Exposing the Cracks in College Tennis’s Amateur System?
Other panelists on the segment added context to Courier’s remarks. Host Steve Weissman highlighted the growing presence of players with collegiate backgrounds in this year’s Australian Open main draw, placing Zheng’s run within a larger trend.
Former World No. 1 Lindsay Davenport focused on the difficult choices facing top college players when professional success and significant prize money arrive earlier than expected. Analyst Prakash Amritraj addressed the broader debate around amateur rules, noting how Zheng’s case reflects a system struggling to keep pace with modern realities in tennis and college sports.
