On The Plains with Nicholas Heng: “shaped me into the person I am today”

As a kid who grew up in Alabama, the opportunity to play at Auburn was a dream come true for Nicholas Heng. The Madison, Alabama, native had a unique junior career that took him around the world before arriving in collegiate tennis.

“I started playing tennis at age seven due to the influence of my older siblings,” Heng said. “I left home at a young age, trained in Atlanta from 10 to 11, Spain from 11 to 12, and then Tulsa, Oklahoma, at Tucker Tennis Academy from 13 to 18. It was especially hard when I went abroad to Spain, but ultimately, I think it toughened me up to be able to travel and take on tennis full-time.

“When I came to Auburn, I actually felt like I had more time to be close to my family. I could visit home during the holidays, and they could come to home matches. Seeing my family at every home match made it so special to play for Auburn.”

Proximity to home was not the only factor that made Auburn appealing. Head coach Bobby Reynolds and the city itself helped make the decision clear.

“What drew me to Auburn compared to other schools was definitely Bobby (Reynolds),” Heng said. “Being able to have a coach with his experience and represent my home state was super appealing to me. When I took my visit, I fell in love with the place and committed very quickly.”

“Bobby has had a massive impact on my career, as he’s the reason I decided to come to Auburn,” Heng added. “What I appreciate about Bobby is that he was very accepting and understanding of the different phases I went through in my four years. I don’t think there’s anyone who knows me better than he does. My junior year, I went through a mid-college crisis where I decided I wanted to transfer. I entered the portal and ultimately decided to come back, and Bobby was fully accepting of me returning. That’s a trait you won’t find at any other school.”

After redshirting his first season, Heng became a contributor in his second year, primarily playing at the No. 5 and No. 6 singles positions and finishing 14-10 in dual matches. As a redshirt sophomore, he posted a 17-8 dual-match singles record and played mainly at the No. 3 doubles position.

Heng transitioned into a leadership role during his final season in 2026, serving as a team captain and becoming a regular at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles. He concluded his Auburn career with a 14-8 dual-match singles record and a 12-6 mark in doubles that season. Through it all, Heng credits his personal growth over the course of his four years.

“Auburn has allowed me to grow through all the phases I went through,” Heng said. “My first year, I grew in understanding what it means to compete in college versus juniors. Redshirting allowed me to witness what great leadership looks like and what the coaches expect.

“My second year, I was diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia, ventricular tachycardia (VTAC), which put me out of the fall until November. Not being able to play for a few months was terrifying, but it made me realize there’s more to life than tennis.

“My third year, I had the crisis of transferring, and I ultimately decided to stay after having one of the most memorable seasons of clinches. My senior year, things began to click in terms of what I wanted from my career, my tennis and graduate school. My level improved so much, and I give a lot of credit to Raul Dobai for helping me as both a close friend, mentor and coach.”

Heng formed lifelong friendships during his time with the program and said his teammates made the biggest impact on his experience.

“My teammates have made the biggest impact during my time at Auburn and will for the rest of my life,” said the Auburn graduate. “I give a lot of credit to Thomas and Jake Kennedy, as well as Joey (Phillips), for helping me navigate the steps toward pursuing a career in finance. They are people I will keep in my corner forever.

“Not only have my teammates positively impacted me career-wise, but I also consider some of them as close as family. We’ve even had Billy Blaydes stay over at our house for Thanksgiving the past few years. Billy and I have grown so much over the four years we were together, and getting to know a new side of him when Freddy (Blaydes) came was amazing. I also want to thank my upperclassmen. They all know who they are. Each of them was such a fantastic leader and mentor in the early stages of my college career.”

In addition to his success on the court, Heng excelled in the classroom. He was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete in 2023, 2024 and 2025 and became the first Auburn player since Tim Puetz to earn SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors in 2026.

Heng has already planned his next steps. He will intern in New York City with Tishman Capital Partners in investment analytics this summer. Next year, he will begin graduate studies at Michigan, pursuing a Master of Management while competing for the Wolverines.

As his time at Auburn comes to a close, Heng reflects on the places and moments that meant the most.

“I will miss the little moments at Auburn,” Heng said. “I already miss going to the game room with the guys, talking with friends at Wellness and especially how beautiful the sunsets are on campus. The beauty of Auburn is that a lot of the great memories come from these small moments that you can’t take for granted.

“I will remember how beautiful the campus is and how friendly the people are. There is a reason the alumni base is called the Auburn Family. It’s something I can always fall back on. I’ll never forget my friends, teammates, coaches and everyone who shaped me into the person I am today. I will stay involved with Auburn for the rest of my life.”