Michael Zheng’s run to the second round of the Australian Open in January could have brought him a reported $225,000 in prize money. But he may only pocket a small fraction of that amount.
That’s because Zheng chose to return to Columbia University for a final collegiate season, where he will attempt to win his third consecutive NCAA singles championship in 2026.
Although athletes in football and basketball can earn millions through revenue sharing and NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) deals, tennis players who compete professionally while maintaining NCAA eligibility may retain only $10,000 above documented expenses in tournament prize money.
There are legal challenges to that NCAA rule. For now, however, Zheng is preserving eligibility while completing his psychology degree. The two-time Ivy League Player of the Year — and former NCAA runner-up as a freshman — is betting that long-term professional earnings outweigh short-term prize money.
Zheng can still earn through NIL. Tennis operates on a global, individual-brand model, giving athletes unique visibility advantages. Equipment sponsors, apparel partnerships and personal branding deals remain the most realistic NIL avenues in college tennis.
While Zheng stands at the top of the college game, several other players are shaping the 2026 NCAA men’s tennis landscape.
NCAA Tennis and NIL in 2026
College tennis sits at an unusual intersection of amateur and professional economics. Elite players regularly compete in ATP Challenger and ITF events while building personal brands internationally.
Unlike revenue-driving sports, NIL in tennis is typically centered around:
- Equipment and shoe partnerships
- Apparel deals
- International sponsorship carryover
- Local business endorsements
For top players, NIL provides supplemental income while maintaining eligibility — but long-term value still hinges on professional ranking trajectory.
Zheng’s situation underscores the core tension: immediate ATP earnings versus legacy-building NCAA dominance.
Top NCAA Men’s Tennis Players for 2026
Dylan Dietrich – Virginia
The 6-foot-5 Swiss junior captured the 2025 NCAA doubles title alongside Mans Dahlberg. A three-time ITA All-American in singles and 2025 doubles All-American, Dietrich remains one of the most consistent all-court players in the country.
Gabriel Debru – Illinois
Still a freshman, Debru arrives with one of the strongest international résumés in college tennis. He won the 2022 Roland Garros junior singles title and finished runner-up in junior doubles at Wimbledon.
He has already claimed two ATP Challenger singles titles and three ITF singles titles. His decision to enroll at Illinois — following older brother Mathis — adds immediate star power to the Big Ten.
Trevor Svajda – SMU
The 5-foot-9 Svajda continues to outperform expectations. He was the NCAA singles runner-up in 2025 and AAC Freshman of the Year in 2024. With additional ATP Tour experience, he enters 2026 as a proven contender.
Sebastian Gorzny – Texas
After recovering from a serious infection as a junior player, Gorzny rebounded to win the 2022 Wimbledon boys doubles title.
He helped TCU capture the 2024 NCAA championship and 2023 ITA Indoor title before transferring to Texas, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2025.
Paul Inchaupse – Princeton
One of the Ivy League’s most decorated players, Inchaupse earned ITA All-American honors in 2025 and Ivy League Rookie of the Year recognition in 2024.
The French junior also reached the 2022 Wimbledon juniors doubles final and has competed regularly on the ITF circuit.
Samir Banerjee – Stanford
The 2021 Wimbledon juniors champion has translated junior success into a strong collegiate career. A two-time ITA All-American, Banerjee helped Stanford win the 2025 ACC championship and previously led the program to a Pac-12 regular-season title.
He continues to compete in ATP Challenger and ITF events.
Edward Winter – Pepperdine
The Australian standout has earned All-WCC honors in singles and doubles in consecutive seasons and was named WCC Freshman of the Year in 2024.
He captured his first professional singles title at the 2022 M25 Traralgon.
Duncan Chan – TCU
Chan’s rise has been one of the most dramatic in college tennis. Once TCU’s No. 6 player, he now anchors the lineup at No. 1.
A two-time NCAA singles qualifier and 2025 Battle in the Bay Classic champion (singles and doubles), Chan secured his first NIL partnership in January with Teddy Wong’s Dumplings & Win, a Fort Worth-based restaurant.
Petar Javanovic and Benito Sanchez – Mississippi State
The nation’s top-ranked doubles pair entering 2026, they won the 2025 ITA All-American doubles title.
Javanovic earned first-team All-SEC and Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors in 2025, while Sanchez is a two-time ITA doubles All-American.
Kailin Ivanoski – Texas
One of the most highly regarded freshmen in 2026, the Macedonian junior standout won eight titles on the junior circuit and has already gained ATP Tour experience.
Why 2026 Feels Different
Elite NCAA tennis players are increasingly good enough to earn meaningful professional prize money. Yet eligibility rules force difficult financial decisions.
For Zheng, a third straight NCAA singles title would solidify one of the greatest careers in modern college tennis history. It would also amplify his brand before fully transitioning to the ATP Tour.
In 2026, NCAA men’s tennis is no longer just a developmental stop. It is a high-level proving ground where professional aspirations, NIL economics and legacy-building intersect.
Learn More About the NIL Landscape
Name, Image, and Likeness plays an increasing role in college sports, and understanding how it works often requires more than individual articles or news updates.
RallyFuel is a platform focused on NIL-related topics across college athletics. It brings together information about athletes, NIL activity, and the broader structure behind modern college sports, helping readers explore the topic in more depth.
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