Zheng Qinwen staged a remarkable comeback at the US Open, toppling six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek with a 7-5, 6-3 victory to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. Initially, Swiatek seemed to have the upper hand, quickly establishing a 5-0 lead in the first set. However, Zheng shifted the momentum dramatically, taking seven consecutive games to clinch the set. Her momentum carried through the second set, leading to one of her most significant career wins.
This victory was particularly impressive given Zheng’s similar performance against Madison Keys in the preceding round, where she also trailed 5-0 in the deciding set before rallying to win seven straight games. Despite entering the tournament with inconsistencies due to an elbow injury and subsequent surgery, which had plummeted her ranking to No. 160 earlier this year, Zheng had to navigate her way through qualifying rounds to reach this stage. The 23-year-old, who has previously won Olympic gold in Paris and reached the 2024 Australian Open final, has now secured seven consecutive wins in New York, reasserting herself as a strong competitor.
Looking ahead, Zheng is set to face off against second seed Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals. Rybakina secured her place in the last eight with a decisive 6-1, 6-4 victory over Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion. Rybakina dominated the match with her powerful and consistent play, recording 29 winners in a brief 66-minute match. In contrast, Osaka struggled with her serve and was hampered by Achilles pain throughout the contest.
In other US Open action, fifth seed Mirra Andreeva advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time by overcoming Austria’s Anastasia Potapova. Andreeva battled back from a set down to secure a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 win, adding another layer of excitement to the tournament’s unfolding drama.