In a stunning display of resilience, Zheng Qinwen orchestrated a remarkable comeback at the US Open by overcoming the formidable Iga Swiatek in a 7-5, 6-3 victory to advance to the quarter-finals. Swiatek, who boasts six Grand Slam titles, seemed to have the upper hand with a commanding 5-0 lead in the first set. However, Zheng managed to reverse the tide, capturing seven straight games to claim the set. Her relentless energy carried into the second set, leading to one of the most significant triumphs in her career.
This match was not Zheng’s first comeback of the tournament. Just a round earlier, she pulled off a similar feat against Madison Keys. In that encounter, Keys had surged to a 5-0 lead in the final set, only for Zheng to rally back and win seven consecutive games. This pattern of overcoming substantial deficits underscores Zheng’s tenacity and ability to perform under pressure.
Entering the tournament, Zheng was grappling with inconsistency due to an elbow injury and subsequent surgery, which had caused her ranking to plummet to No. 160 earlier in the year. Despite these challenges, she began her journey at the US Open in the qualifying rounds. The 23-year-old, who clinched Olympic gold in Paris and was a finalist at the 2024 Australian Open, has now secured seven victories in New York, reestablishing herself as a formidable force in the competition.
Zheng is set to face the tournament’s second seed, Elena Rybakina, in the quarter-finals. Rybakina secured her spot in the last eight by defeating Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion, with an assertive 6-1, 6-4 win. Rybakina’s performance was marked by her powerful and consistent play, as she delivered 29 winners in just 66 minutes. Osaka, on the other hand, was hindered by serving difficulties and Achilles pain.
Meanwhile, the fifth seed, Mirra Andreeva, also reached the US Open quarter-finals for the first time. She achieved this milestone by overcoming Austria’s Anastasia Potapova in a three-set battle, ultimately prevailing 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. As the tournament progresses, the stage is set for more thrilling encounters among the world’s top tennis talents.