Michigan
Columbia
Dahlin Defeats No. 3 Zheng as Michigan Falls to No. 12 Columbia
2/7/2026 3:47:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)
Score: #12 Columbia 4, Michigan 3
Records: U-M (1-4), Columbia (3-3)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 8 -- vs. Tennessee (Varsity Tennis Center), Noon
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's tennis team fell, 4-3, to No. 12-ranked Columbia on Saturday (Feb. 7) at the Varsity Tennis Center in the Wolverines' home opener.
No. 8-ranked freshman Max Dahlin recorded a win in singles, defeating No. 3-ranked Michael Zheng 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. It's the highest-ranked opponent that the Swede has defeated as he improves to 13-3 on the season. It marked the two-time NCAA singles champion first loss of since a walkover in November at the ITA Masters and just the second of the year. This was Zheng's first singles match back after retiring with injury in the second round of the Australian Open.
Michigan grabbed a 1-0 lead, winning the doubles point, but Columbia took three quick singles wins to gain the lead.
Dahlin and Pierce Shaya improved to 2-0 as a pair with a 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles as they defeated Nicolas Kotzen and Zheng, 6-4. After the Lions won 6-4 at No. 3, the point came down to No. 2 doubles. Bjorn Swenson delivered a shot down the line to seal a 6-4 victory for himself and patner Mert Oral.
Oral went on to earn a win at No. 4 singles over Thanaphat Boosarawongse in straight sets. 7-5, 6-1, marking his 10th singles win of the season.
It's a quick turnaround for the Wolverines, as they will host Tennessee at the Varsity Tennis Center tomorrow (Feb. 8) at noon.
Following are match-by-match results
Singles
No. 1 – No. 8 Max Dahlin (U-M) d. No. 3 Michael Zheng (CU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
No. 2 – No. 25 Nicolas Kotzen (CU) d. No 71 Bjorn Swenson (U-M) 6-4, 7-5
No. 3 – No. 37 Sachin Palta (CU) d. Nicholas Steiglehner (U-M) 6-2 6-1
No. 4 – Mert Oral (U-M) d. Thanaphat Boosarawongse (CU) 7-5, 6-2
No. 5 – Abhishek Thorat (CU) d. Arnav Bhandari (U-M) 7-5, 6-1
No. 6 – Aditya Govila (CU) d. Pierce Shaya (U-M) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1 – Max Dahlin/Pierce Shaya (U-M) d. Nicolas Kotzen/Michael Zheng (CU) 6-4
No. 2 –Bjorn Swenson/Mert Oral (U-M) d. Jordan Chang/Sachin Palta (CU) 6-4
No. 3 -Thanaphat Boosarawongse/Aditya Govila (CU) d. Nicholas Steiglehner/Arnav Bhandari (U-M) 6-4
Order of Completion:Â Doubles 1-3-2; Singles 3-5-6-4-2-1
Players Mentioned
