In a thrilling display of resilience, Zheng Qinwen staged a remarkable comeback at the US Open, overcoming six-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek with a score of 7-5, 6-3 to secure her place in the quarter-finals. Swiatek initially seemed to have the match under control, surging to a 5-0 lead in the first set. Yet, Zheng flipped the script, capturing seven consecutive games to clinch the set. Her momentum carried into the second set, where she maintained her dominance, achieving one of her most significant victories to date.
Zheng’s triumph is even more impressive given her similar comeback against Madison Keys in the previous round. Against Keys, she faced a daunting 5-0 deficit in the deciding set but managed to turn the tables by winning seven games in succession. Entering the tournament, Zheng was grappling with inconsistency due to an elbow injury and subsequent surgery that had plummeted her ranking to No. 160 earlier this year. Despite these setbacks, she fought her way through US Open qualifying rounds to make it into the main draw.
The 23-year-old athlete, who previously claimed Olympic gold in Paris and was a finalist at the 2024 Australian Open, has now triumphed in seven matches in New York, re-establishing herself as a formidable force on the court. Her next challenge will be second seed Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals. Rybakina secured her quarter-final berth with a decisive 6-1, 6-4 win over Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion.
Rybakina showcased her prowess with a powerful and consistent performance, amassing 29 winners in a swift 66-minute match. Meanwhile, Osaka struggled to find her rhythm, hampered by an erratic serve and Achilles pain, which limited her effectiveness on the court.
In another part of the draw, fifth seed Mirra Andreeva advanced to the US Open quarter-finals for the first time in her career. She battled past Austria’s Anastasia Potapova with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory, marking a significant milestone in her tournament journey.