Zhang Named Big Ten Player of the Week Following Run at ITA All-American Championships

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini senior Jeremy Zhang was named Big Ten Player of the Week following his singles run at the ITA All-American Championships.

Now in his fourth season at Illinois, Zhang earned the honor for the first time in his career.

Zhang began his run in the prequalifying draw, securing a straight-set victory over Alejandro Arcila, 6-4, 7-5, on Saturday. His two wins on Sunday – triumphs over Santa Clara's Ferran Redza and Texas Tech's Imran Daniel Abdul Hazli – saw him progress to the singles qualifying draw.

Taking on his first ranked opponent of the fall on Monday, Zhang posted a three-set decision over Mississippi State's No. 95-ranked Raphael Vaksmann. On Tuesday, he claimed his spot in the main draw with a commanding 6-0, 6-1 showing against Clemson's No. 117-ranked Matisse Farzam.

Zhang was one of only three players to advance from prequalifying all the way into the main draw, joined by UCLA's Andy Nguyen and Dayton's Kyle McNally.

His run ultimately came to a close on Thursday with defeats against players ranked in the top 30 nationally: No. 10 Matthew Forbes (Ohio State) and No. 30 Nicolas Arseneault (Kentucky).

A native of Sydney, Australia, Zhang is the first Illini to be named Big Ten Player of the Week since Zach Viiala achieved that status on March 11, 2026.

RESULTS

Saturday, Sept. 19

Singles Prequalifying - First Round
Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) def. [20] Alejandro Arcila (Arizona), 6-4, 7-5
Hank Trondson (Oklahoma State) def. [19] Zach Viiala (Illinois), 6-4, 7-5

Sunday, Sept. 20

Singles Prequalifying - Second Round
Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) def. Ferran Redza (Santa Clara), 7-6(8), 6-7(8), 4-1, ret.

Singles Prequalifying - Third Round
Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) def. Imran Daniel Abdul Hazli (Texas Tech), 6-4, 6-3 – Zhang advances to singles qualifying draw

Monday, Sept. 21

Singles Qualifying - First Round
Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) def. [17] #95 Raphael Vaksmann (Mississippi State), 7-5, 3-6, 6-3

Tuesday, Sept. 22

Singles Qualifying - Second Round
Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) def. #117 Matisse Farzam (Clemson), 6-0, 6-1 – Zhang advances to singles main draw

Wednesday, Sept. 23

Singles Main Draw - First Round
#30 Nicolas Arseneault (Kentucky) def. Jeremy Zhang (Illinois), 6-3, 6-4

Thursday, Sept. 24

Singles Main Draw Consolation - First Round
[6] #10 Matthew Forbes (Ohio State) def. Jeremy Zhang (Illinois), 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(4)

Schedule